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Meaning & use

early

adjective, adverb·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˈɜːli/
US/ˈɜrli/

Meanings

  1. adjectivecomparable

    Coming or happening before the usual, expected or planned time.

    Grammar: Used after be or before a noun: the bus was early, an early flight.

    Patterns

    • be early for something
    • an early start

    The train was ten minutes early, so we waited on the platform.

    She caught an early flight to avoid the traffic.

    We were early for the meeting and had coffee first.

  2. adjectivebefore a noun

    Belonging to the first part of a period, process or series.

    Grammar: Appears before a noun: early childhood, early spring.

    Patterns

    • in the early stages
    • early in something

    Early symptoms of the illness are easy to miss.

    The museum has paintings from his early career.

    In the early days of the company, they worked from a garage.

  3. adverbnot comparable

    Before the usual or arranged time, or near the start of a period.

    Grammar: Same spelling as the adjective: she arrived early.

    Patterns

    • arrive early
    • early in the morning

    I woke up early and went for a run.

    Please arrive early to find a seat.

    The stores close early on Sundays.

Word forms

comparativeearlier
superlativeearliest

Common combinations

early morning
The early morning light made the lake look silver.
early riser
My father is an early riser and likes to walk before breakfast.
early on
We spotted the problem early on, so it was easy to fix.
early bird
The early bird gets the best seats in the lecture hall.
book early
Book early if you want a cheap ticket.

Synonyms and how they differ

premature
Premature means too soon in a way that is a problem, while early is neutral.
prompt
Prompt means without delay, not before the expected time like early.
initial
Initial points to the first stage of something and cannot mean arriving ahead of time.
advance
Advance is used before a noun, such as advance notice, and sounds more formal than early.

Opposites

latedelayed

Word family

earlier adjective
comparative, before another time
earliest adjective
superlative, first in time
earliness noun
the state of being early, rare
early-bird adjective
designed for people who come or buy early

Commonly confused: early or earlily?

early vs earlily

Earlily is not used; early itself serves as the adverb.

Practice

She does not like rushing, so she always arrives ___ for appointments.

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