early

[ ur-lee ]

/ ˈɜr li /

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See 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.

OTHER WORDS FOR early

5 initial.

6 beforehand, premature.

See synonyms for early on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about early

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 ǣrere) + līc(e) -ly

OTHER WORDS FROM early

ear·li·ness, noun

Other definitions for early (2 of 2)

Early

[ ur-lee ]

/ ˈɜr li /

noun

Ju·bal Anderson

[joo-buhl], /ˈdʒu bəl/, 1816–94, Confederate general in the U.S. Civil War.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use early in a sentence

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 sepoys have come in from Meerut,” he announced with the slow tick of the earliest form of apparatus.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
Oddly enough this assumption—the most warrantable of the lot—was the earliest to fall under disrepute.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock
Yung Pak's earliest days were spent very much as are those of most babies, whether they live in Korea or America.
Our Little Korean Cousin|H. Lee M. Pike
My earliest recollection in connection with railways is my first railway journey, which took place when I was four years of age.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland|Joseph Tatlow
Monsieur Farival thought that Victor should have been taken out in mid-ocean in his earliest youth and drowned.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin

British Dictionary definitions for early

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 of early

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with early

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

OTHER WORDS FOR early

Idioms about early

Origin of early

OTHER WORDS FROM early

Other definitions for early (2 of 2)

Words related to early

How to use early in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for early

Derived forms of early

Word Origin for early

Other Idioms and Phrases with early