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.

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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.

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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

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adverb

1. before the expected or usual time

2. near the first part of a period or sequence

   I was talking to him earlier

early More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing early

• bright and early

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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

“Very early on, all of us knew that we weren’t going to add any story,” says Parker, who previously worked on “Thrones” prequel “House of the Dragon.”

From Los Angeles Times

His carefully rehearsed lines and bookish glasses earned him the unwelcome nickname of "Robot Jetten" in his early career.

From Barron's

The city was put on the map by Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, who came in the early 1960s for the filming of “The Night of the Iguana.”

From The Wall Street Journal

The ceremony was edited and aired on a delay, and this year the BBC announced early that it was on especially high alert for any comments that were perceived as scandalous.

From Los Angeles Times

The fans never got an opportunity to give a grateful goodbye, Pat Riley resigning on an early summer afternoon 36 years ago after the end of a lost season.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• beforehand
• briefly
• directly
• immediately
• prematurely
• previous
• promptly
• quick
• shortly
• soon
• too soon
• unexpectedly