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  • early bird
    early bird
    noun
    a person who rises at an early hour.
  • Early Bird
    Early Bird
    noun
    one of a number of communications satellites, the first of which was launched in 1965 into a stationary orbit and provided telephone channels between Europe and the US See also Intelsat
Synonyms

early bird

American  

noun

  1. a person who rises at an early hour.

  2. a person who arrives before others, as for the purpose of gaining some advantage.

    The early birds got the best seats for the play.

  3. (initial capital letters) the first of the Intelsat series of communications satellites, orbited (1965) by Intelsat.


Early Bird 1 British  

noun

  1. one of a number of communications satellites, the first of which was launched in 1965 into a stationary orbit and provided telephone channels between Europe and the US See also Intelsat

"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 bird 2 British  

noun

  1. informal a person who rises early or arrives in good time

"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

Etymology

Origin of early bird

First recorded in 1885–90

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.

Are you, like Lawler, an early bird up with the dawn?

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 22, 2026

Upon arrival, attendees can pick out personality stickers with phrases like coffee addict, plant lover and early bird.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 21, 2025

Anna got a PDC membership so that she should buy early bird tickets in the summer, but even then it was "like a mini Oasis" in the scramble to get tickets.

From BBC • Jan. 3, 2025

Rick Miramontez is both a night owl and an early bird.

From New York Times • Apr. 10, 2024

“They say the early bird gets the worm. But isn’t it a bit too early for worms?”

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood