Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

early

1 American  
[ur-lee] / ˈɜr li /

adverb

earlier, earliest

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

    early in the year.

  2. in the early part of the morning.

    to get up early.

  3. before the usual or appointed time; ahead of time.

    They came early and found their hosts still dressing.

  4. far back in time.

    The Greeks early learned to sail and navigate.

adjective

earlier, earliest

  1. 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.
    Synonyms:
    initial

  2. occurring before the usual or appointed time.

    an early dinner.
    Synonyms:
    premature, beforehand

  3. belonging to a period far back in time.

    early French architecture.

  4. occurring in the near future.

    I look forward to an early reply.

  5. (of a fruit or vegetable) appearing or maturing before most others of its type.

    early apples.

noun

plural

earlies

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

idioms

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

Early 2 American  
[ur-lee] / ˈɜr li /

noun

  1. Jubal Anderson 1816–94, Confederate general in the U.S. Civil War.

early British  
/ ˈɜːlɪ /

adjective

  1. before the expected or usual time

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

  3. occurring in or characteristic of a period far back in time

  4. occurring in the near future

  5. not before the time or date mentioned

  6. too soon to tell how things will turn out

"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

adverb

  1. before the expected or usual time

  2. near the first part of a period or sequence

    I was talking to him earlier
"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
early More Idioms  

    More idioms and phrases containing early

Other Word Forms

  • earliness noun

Etymology

Origin of early

First recorded before 950; Middle English erlich (adjective), erliche (adverb), Old English ǣrlīc, ǣrlīce, variant of ārlīc, ārlīce, from ār “soon, early” ( ere ) + līc(e) -ly

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

However, the upcoming Beijing Auto Show in late April should support sentiment and the Labor Day holiday in early May could also boost vehicle demand as consumers undertake road trips, the industry body said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

"Maybe if the baby comes early I might get to do something for the knockout rounds."

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

U.S. stock futures moved lower as equities fell in Asia and Europe, though front-month Brent crude oil held below $100 a barrel after rising in early European trade.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

The genetic evidence also revealed where these early populations came from.

From Science Daily • Apr. 9, 2026

A crowd was gathering in spite of the early morning hour.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.