early
see also: Early
Pronunciation Adjective

early (comparative earlier, superlative earliest)

  1. At a time in advance of the usual or expected event.
    at eleven, we went for an early lunch;  she began reading at an early age;  his mother suffered an early death
  2. Arriving a time before expected; sooner than on time.
    You're early today! I don't usually see you before nine o'clock.
    The early guests sipped their punch and avoided each other's eyes.
  3. Near the start or beginning.
    The play "Two Gentlemen of Verona" is one of Shakespeare's early works.
    Early results showed their winning 245 out of 300 seats in parliament. The main opponent locked up only 31 seats.
  4. Having begun to occur; in its early stages.
    early cancer
  5. (astronomy, dated) Of a star or class of stars, hotter than the sun.
    Antonyms: late
Synonyms Antonyms
  • (at a time in advance of the usual): late
  • (illness: having begun to occur): terminal
Translations Translations Translations Translations Adverb

early (comparative earlier, superlative earliest)

  1. At a time before expected; sooner than usual.
    We finished the project an hour sooner than scheduled, so we left early.
  2. Soon; in good time; seasonably.
    • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), imprinted at London: By Robert Barker, […], OCLC 964384981 ↗, Proverbs 8:17 ↗:
      Those that seek me early shall find me.
    • ?, Alfred Tennyson, The May Queen
      You must wake and call me early.
Synonyms Antonyms Translations Noun

early (plural earlies)

  1. (informal) A shift (scheduled work period) that takes place early in the day.
Antonyms
Early
Proper noun
  1. Surname



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