early

[ ur-lee ]

/ ˈɜr li /

|||

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR early ON THESAURUS.COM

adverb, ear·li·er, ear·li·est.

in or during the first part of a period of time, a course of action, a series of events, etc.: early in the year.

in the early part of the morning: to get up early.

before the usual or appointed time; ahead of time: They came early and found their hosts still dressing.

far back in time: The Greeks early learned to sail and navigate.

adjective, ear·li·er, ear·li·est.

occurring in the first part of a period of time, a course of action, a series of events, etc.: an early hour of the day.

occurring before the usual or appointed time: an early dinner.

belonging to a period far back in time: early French architecture.

occurring in the near future: I look forward to an early reply.

(of a fruit or vegetable) appearing or maturing before most others of its type: early apples.

noun, plural ear·lies.

a fruit or vegetable that appears before most others of its type.

Nearby words

earless seal, earlier han, earlobe, earlock, earlship, early, early adopter, early american, early bird, early bird catches the worm, early blight

Idioms

early on, with but little time elapsed; early in the course of a process, project, etc.; early in the game.

Origin of early

before 950; Middle English erlich (adj.), erliche (adv.), Old English ǣrlīc, ǣrlīce, mutated variant of ārlīc, ārlīce, equivalent to ār- early (positive of ǣr ere) + līc(e) -ly

SYNONYMS FOR early

5 initial.

6 beforehand, premature.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR early ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

ear·li·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for earliest

She adds that some of the earliest voting booths were stationed inside drinking establishments.
The Bars That Made America Great|Nina Strochlic|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Hitchcock saw the work of, and probably met, Murnau, the great German filmmaker--the earliest master of bleak light and shadow.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days|David Freeman|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Indeed the earliest vaccinations against small pox were done 1,000 years ago in China.
Powdered Measles Vaccine Could Be Huge for Developing World|Kent Sepkowitz|December 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
One of her earliest memories of life in the Bronx is visiting the library with her mother and sister.
The Singular Artist of New Yorkistan|Lizzie Crocker|November 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST

One of the earliest ticker-tape parades was for Teddy Roosevelt when he returned from an African safari in 1910.
It’s Time for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans to Get a Parade of Their Own|Michael Daly|November 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The name of Mr. Galloway should also be mentioned as one of the earliest workers in this direction.
Scientific American Supplement, No. 488, May 9, 1885|Various
Her meaning had been, from her earliest years, to marry, or be married.
The Maid of Sker|Richard Doddridge Blackmore
By earliest daylight they come crowding around the camp, as though they expected to find something eatable there.
The Land of Fire|Mayne Reid
Should anything immediately result from it, you may depend on the earliest intelligence.
Private Letters of Edward Gibbon (1753-1794) Volume 1 (of 2)|Edward Gibbon
This man came of Scottish ancestry, the earliest records of the family dating from 1547.
Great Men and Famous Women. Vol. 4 of 8|Various

British Dictionary definitions for earliest

early

/ (ˈɜːlɪ) /

adjective -lier or -liest

before the expected or usual time

occurring in or characteristic of the first part of a period or sequence

occurring in or characteristic of a period far back in time

occurring in the near future

at the earliest not before the time or date mentioned

early days too soon to tell how things will turn out

adverb -lier

before the expected or usual time

near the first part of a period or sequenceI was talking to him earlier

Derived Forms

earliness, noun

Word Origin for early

Old English ǣrlīce, from ǣr ere + -līce -ly ²; related to Old Norse arliga

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with earliest

early

In addition to the idioms beginning with early

early bird catches the worm
early on
early to bed, early to rise (makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise)

also see:

bright and early

early

adverb, ear·li·er, ear·li·est.

adjective, ear·li·er, ear·li·est.

noun, plural ear·lies.

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of early

SYNONYMS FOR early

Related forms

Examples from the Web for earliest

British Dictionary definitions for earliest

early

adjective -lier or -liest

adverb -lier

Derived Forms

Word Origin for early

Idioms and Phrases with earliest

early