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

"Research on the topic of ocular conditions and climate is still in its early stages; therefore, more studies are needed to better understand how climate and air pollutants impact eye health."

From Science Daily

She subsequently had to have a hysterectomy and then went through an early menopause that triggered mental health issues and self-harming.

From BBC

It does take place 10,000 years earlier, yet in most respects, life in this far-flung network of planets seems to have changed little in 100 centuries.

From Los Angeles Times

The paramedics responsible were sentenced earlier this year with 14 months in jail.

From Salon

Weeks earlier, as the owner of the Washington Post, Bezos had blocked an endorsement of Kamala Harris by the newspaper’s editorial board.

From Salon

Related Words

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