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- Dictionaryear·ly/ˈərlē/
adjective
- 1. happening or done before the usual or expected time: "we ate an early lunch" Similar Opposite
- 2. happening, belonging to, or done near the beginning of a particular time or period: "an early goal secured victory" Similar Opposite
adverb
- 1. before the usual or expected time: "I was planning to finish work early today" Similar Opposite
- 2. near the beginning of a particular time or period: "we lost a couple of games early in the season"
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The meaning of EARLY is near the beginning of a period of time. How to use early in a sentence.
EARLY definition: 1. near the beginning of a period of time, or before the usual, expected, or planned time: 2…. Learn more.
Something that's early happens right at the beginning of some specific time period, or before you expect it to happen. An early party guest shows up before the party starts. An early riser gets up with the sun every morning, and you might eat an early dinner at five in the evening.
Early definition: in or during the first part of a period of time, a course of action, a series of events, etc.. See examples of EARLY used in a sentence.
a. Of or belonging to a previous or remote period of time: the early inhabitants of the British Isles. b. Of or belonging to an initial stage of development: an early form of life; an early computer. 3. Occurring, developing, or appearing before the expected or usual time: an early spring; an early retirement. 4.
Early means near the beginning of a period in history, or in the history of something such as the world, a society, or an activity. ...the early stages of pregnancy. ...Fassbinder's early films. ...the early days of the occupation. It's too early to declare his efforts a success.
arriving, or done before the usual, expected or planned time. You're early! I wasn't expecting you till seven. The bus was ten minutes early. an early breakfast. He learnt to play the piano at an early age. Let's make an early start tomorrow. She's an early riser (= she gets up early in the morning).
used after a time or date to show that something will not happen before then: Building will not begin until July at the earliest. early on. in the first stage or part of something: I lost interest quite early on in the book. See also. it's early days. (Definition of early from the Cambridge Learner's Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)
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. occurring before the usual or appointed time: an early dinner. belonging to a period far back in time: early French architecture.
adjective. /ˈərli/. (earlier, earliest) near the beginning of a period of time, an event, etc. the early morning my earliest memories The project is still in the early stages. the early 1990s in the early days of space exploration (= when it was just beginning) He's in his early twenties.
