early

¹

[ ur-lee ]

adverb

, ear·li·er, ear·li·est.

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

, ear·li·er, ear·li·est.

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 ear·lies.

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

Early

²

[ ur-lee ]

noun

1. Ju·bal Anderson [joo, -b, uh, l], 1816–94, Confederate general in the U.S. Civil War.

early

/ 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. at the earliest
   not before the time or date mentioned
6. early days
   too soon to tell how things will turn out

adverb

1. before the expected or usual time
2. near the first part of a period or sequence

   I was talking to him earlier

Derived Forms

• ˈearliness, noun

Other Words From

• earli·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of early¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of early¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

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

More idioms and phrases containing early

• bright and early

Example Sentences

For example, genes associated with traits that allowed early Europeans to produce vitamin D and digest milk into adulthood showed strong signs of selection, but only in the most recent time periods.

From Science Daily

Both conditions disrupt lives and can lead to serious complications like colon perforation, cancer, and even early mortality.

From Science Daily

While earlier studies of play in wild adult chimpanzees had been lacking, they recognized that adult males and females in these groups play together regularly.

From Science Daily

Members threatened to strike earlier this year over plans to make them all redundant and re-employ them for six months a year.

From BBC

He told Australian media earlier this week that his page used to receive a submission a week about methanol poisoning across South East Asia.

From BBC

Related Words

• directly
• first
• promptly
• recently
• right away
• soon
• timely