51Թ

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View synonyms for

early

1

[ur-lee]

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.



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:
  2. occurring before the usual or appointed time.

    an early dinner.

    Synonyms: ,
  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.

Early

2

[ur-lee]

noun

  1. Jubal Anderson 1816–94, Confederate general in the U.S. Civil War.

early

/ ˈɜːɪ /

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

“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

adverb

  1. before the expected or usual time

  2. near the first part of a period or sequence

    I was talking to him earlier

“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
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • earliness noun
  • ˈ𲹰Ա noun
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of early1

First recorded before 950; Middle English erlich (adjective), erliche (adverb), Old English ǣlīc, ǣī, variant of līc, līce, from “soon, early” ( ere ) + ī() -ly
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of early1

Old English ǣī, from ǣ ere + -ly ²; related to Old Norse arliga
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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.

In addition to the idioms beginning with early, also see bright and early.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

As sirens rang out across Israel in the early hours of Saturday morning, Ifat Benhaim and her family ran into their basement.

From

In typically clinical fashion, they took this early chance as captain Conan peeled off the back of the maul and powered over.

From

My earliest memory of my mother’s home garden was her formidable yet beloved zucchini plant.

From

Bath also become the first English team since opponents Leicester in 2001 to seal a treble, after winning the Premiership Rugby Cup and the European Challenge Cup earlier this season.

From

A fourth night of disorder, but at a lower level than seen earlier in the week.

From

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Related 51Թs

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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