early
UR-lee
Early (adj) means happening or arriving before the expected or usual time. Example: “We caught an early flight to avoid the traffic.”
adj
1
Happening or arriving before the expected or usual time.
"We caught an early flight to avoid the traffic."
"It's still early days for the project."
"An early frost damaged the flowers in our garden."
adv
1
Before the usual or expected time.
"She always wakes up early, even on weekends."
"We arrived early to get good seats near the front."
"If you book early, the tickets are usually cheaper."
How to use early
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSooner than expected, or near the beginning of something.
Common mistake
"Early" works as both an adjective and adverb without changing form — "an early start" and "arrive early" are both correct.
Common pairings
early morning
early bird
early days
early on
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Word forms
- Plural
- earlies
- Comparative
- earlier
- Superlative
- earliest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We caught an _____ flight to avoid the traffic.
Etymology
From Old English ǣrlīċ, combining ere ("before") with the adjective suffix "-ly".
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for early
See all rhymes for early →Frequently asked questions
What does “early” mean?
The word “early” means happening or arriving before the expected or usual time. In plain terms, sooner than expected, or near the beginning of something.
How do you pronounce “early”?
“Early” is pronounced UR-lee (/ˈɝli/ in IPA).
How do you use “early” in a sentence?
Here is “early” used in a sentence: “We caught an early flight to avoid the traffic.”
What is another word for “early”?
Words with a similar meaning to “early” include early doors and prematurely.
What is the opposite of “early”?
The opposite of “early” — its antonyms — are late, terminal, mid, middle and tardily.
What part of speech is “early”?
Depending on how it is used, “early” can be an adjective and an adverb.
Where does the word “early” come from?
The word “early” comes from Old English. From Old English ǣrlīċ, combining ere ("before") with the adjective suffix "-ly".
Is “early” a common word?
“Early” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between "early" and "soon"?
"Early" measures against an expected time and means before it, as in "an early arrival." "Soon" measures from now and means a short time from the present, as in "I'll leave soon." Something can be soon but not early, like a bus that comes shortly yet still runs late.
What is the opposite of "early"?
The main opposite is "late," meaning after the expected or usual time. "Late" is the counterpart when speaking of arrival or timing, as in "an early train" versus "a late train." When "early" means near the beginning of a period, its opposite is "late" too, as in "early autumn" versus "late autumn."
Is being "early" good or bad?
It depends on the setting, so "early" is neutral in itself. Arriving early for a meeting is usually seen as polite and prepared. But an early frost can ruin crops, and an early departure may mean you miss something. The word simply notes "before the expected time," leaving the value to context.
What is an example of "early"?
"We caught an early train" means one before the usual or planned time. "She is an early riser" means she wakes before most people. "It is still early days" means near the beginning of something. Each use points to a time ahead of what is expected or typical.
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