early
early — adjective
1. happening in the first part of a day, season, or other time span, or arriving so
happening in the first part of a day, season, or other time span, or arriving sooner than is normal for that context.
Devika takes the early train to Taipei every morning so she can avoid the traffic.
early train — public transport before peak time
The early chapters of the novel describe the main character's childhood in Kenya.
In the early stages of the project, the team focused on interviewing local families.
The early morning light filled the kitchen with a warm golden glow.
early morning — first part of the day
- early morning
- early afternoon
- early stages
- early years
- early days
- early chapters
- early train
- early flight
- early meeting
- late
the direct opposite in both time and order
Grammar Patterns
early + noun (morning/stages/chapters)
be + early
Usage Note
Often placed before nouns naming parts of a time cycle (morning, afternoon, year) or steps in a process (stages, chapters, days).
Common Mistakes
2. of plants or their products, ripening or becoming ready for use sooner than most
of plants or their products, ripening or becoming ready for use sooner than most other varieties of the same type.
The gardener planted early potatoes that were ready to dig up by late spring.
early + [crop name] — a variety that ripens sooner
These early apples are smaller but much sweeter than the ones that appear later.
Minh bought early peaches from the market that had a wonderful sweet smell.
Yael grew early tomatoes in her greenhouse and enjoyed them fresh in salads.
- early potatoes
- early apples
- early peaches
- early tomatoes
- early strawberries
- early flowers
- early harvest
- early variety
- first
used for the earliest produce of a season, but less specific to plant varieties
- late
used for varieties that mature later in the season
Grammar Patterns
early + noun (potatoes/apples/peaches)
Usage Note
Almost always appears before a noun naming a fruit, vegetable, or flower variety. The opposite is 'late' (late apples, late potatoes).
3. placed straight after a stated time to indicate that the event cannot happen any
placed straight after a stated time to indicate that the event cannot happen any sooner and may take place afterwards.
The repairs on the bridge will finish by next summer at the very earliest.
at the very earliest — emphasising that this is the soonest possible time
Haruto said the package would arrive on Wednesday at the earliest.
Valentina told me the report would be completed by Monday at the earliest.
Reuben can move into the apartment by December at the earliest.
at the earliest — fixed phrase after a time expression meaning 'not before'
- at the earliest
- at the very earliest
Grammar Patterns
[time/date] at the earliest
Usage Note
Always uses the superlative form 'earliest'. Commonly appears with 'very' for emphasis ('at the very earliest'). The phrase sits after the time expression it modifies.
Common Mistakes
4. expected or likely to happen soon, usually before the typical or expected time f
expected or likely to happen soon, usually before the typical or expected time for something similar.
Doctors were optimistic about the patient's early release from the hospital.
early release — leaving hospital sooner than expected
The company announced an early launch date for their new electric vehicle.
Rania hoped for an early end to the long negotiations with the union.
Yumi spotted the early signs of spring when the first buds appeared on the trees.
- early release
- early recovery
- early warning
- early signs
- early end
- early launch
- early return
- delayed
happening later than expected
Grammar Patterns
early + noun (release/recovery/warning/signs)
Usage Note
Typically appears before abstract nouns such as release, recovery, warning, signs, and end. Does not usually appear after a linking verb.
This phrase is used to ask someone to do something as soon as they are able to.
Please send the report at your earliest convenience, Mr. Chen.
Could you call me back at your earliest convenience, Lisa?
bright and early
idiomThis phrase means very early in the morning.
We left for the airport bright and early at 5 AM.
Why are you up bright and early on a Sunday, Sara?
an early bird
idiomThis phrase refers to a person who wakes up or arrives very early.
My grandmother is an early bird; she wakes at 5 AM daily.
Diego is an early bird and finishes his work before noon.
This saying means that people who act quickly have an advantage over others.
Remember, the early bird catches the worm, so apply for the job now.
Maya got the best seats because the early bird catches the worm.
early doors
idiomThis phrase means at an early stage, especially in a game or competition.
The team scored two goals early doors and won easily.
Early doors in the match, Aiden injured his ankle.
This phrase refers to the time very early in the morning, soon after midnight.
The fire started in the early hours of Sunday morning.
We talked until the small hours about our travel plans.
This phrase is used to say that it is too soon to know how a situation will develop.
It's early days yet, so we don't know if the project will succeed.
The new restaurant is still early days; let's wait and see.
early — adverb
1. at a point close to the start of a measured span such as a day, week, month, or
at a point close to the start of a measured span such as a day, week, month, or year.
Eleni gets up early in the morning to walk her dog before breakfast.
early in the morning — at the start of the day
The museum opens early on Saturdays for school groups and visitors.
Early in the year the fields are covered with wildflowers and tall grass.
Owen likes to start his homework early in the evening so he can relax later.
- early in the morning
- early in the day
- early in the week
- early in the year
- get up early
- wake up early
- start early
- open early
- at the start
more literal; less common in everyday speech
- at the beginning
used for processes rather than clock time
- late
the opposite in any time context
Grammar Patterns
early + in + [time period]
verb + early
Usage Note
Often paired with 'in' to specify the time period (early in the morning, early in the week). As an adverb, it follows the main verb (arrive early, start early).
Common Mistakes
2. fairly soon after the start of a process, event, series, or other unfolding sequ
fairly soon after the start of a process, event, series, or other unfolding sequence.
Early in the game the home team scored two goals in quick succession.
early in the game — soon after the start of an event
Heather decided early in her studies that she wanted to become a nurse.
The problem was spotted early in the testing phase and fixed right away.
Early in the concert the pianist played a piece by Chopin that moved everyone in the hall.
- early in the game
- early in the process
- early in the season
- early in the race
- early in the film
- early in the meeting
- immediately
stronger emphasis on quick action rather than position in a sequence
- later on
at a more advanced point in the process
Grammar Patterns
early + in + [process/sequence]
early in the + [noun]
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 1: this sense applies to processes and events (game, career, film, project), not to clock or calendar time.
3. sooner than the usual, expected, or planned time.
sooner than the usual, expected, or planned time.
The bus arrived five minutes early, so Jabari had to hurry to the stop.
arrived early — happening before the expected time
The cherry blossoms bloomed early this year because of the warm winter.
Tamás finished his exam early and checked his answers twice before leaving.
The baby was born two weeks early and stayed in the hospital for five days.
born early — arriving before the due date
- arrive early
- finish early
- leave early
- start early
- come early
- bloom early
- born early
- ahead of schedule
more formal; often used in work or project contexts
- beforehand
emphasises preparation before an event
- late
after the expected time
Grammar Patterns
verb + early (arrive/finish/bloom/leave)
Usage Note
Commonly used with verbs like arrive, finish, leave, start, come, bloom, and ripen. The opposite is 'late'.
Common Mistakes
4. in the near future; before long, especially when referring to an expected or pla
in the near future; before long, especially when referring to an expected or planned event.
The new shopping centre is expected to open as early as next spring.
as early as — emphasising the soonness of a future event
We will announce the winner early next week after the judges finish voting.
Christopher hopes to hear back from the university early in the new year.
The doctor said I should receive the test results early next week at the latest.
- as early as
- early next week
- early next year
- early this month
- soon
the closest synonym; 'soon' is more general and does not need a reference timeframe
- before long
slightly more literary; emphasises short duration until the event
- later
after a longer period of time
Grammar Patterns
as early as [time]
early + [time period]
Usage Note
Often appears in the patterns 'as early as [time]' and 'early [time period]' (early next week, early next year). The emphasis is on the nearness of a future point, not on being ahead of schedule.
Common Mistakes
❌ 'I will finish the work early.' could mean either 'before the deadline' (sense 3) or 'soon' (sense 4) — context determines the meaning. To avoid confusion, use 'soon' for the 'in the near future' meaning.
5. at a time before a particular reference point or event; used in the comparative
at a time before a particular reference point or event; used in the comparative form 'earlier' to show that something happens sooner than something else.
We arrived at the station ten minutes earlier than the scheduled departure time.
earlier than — comparing timing against a reference point
The earlier report suggested a different cause for the power failure.
Élise left the meeting earlier than everyone else because she had a train to catch.
Eitan had visited the museum earlier in the month and noticed the statue was gone.
- earlier than
- earlier this week
- earlier this year
- earlier version
- earlier report
- earlier today
- sooner
more common in informal speech; can imply 'more willingly' as well as 'earlier in time'
- later
at a time after a reference point
Grammar Patterns
earlier + than + [reference point]
Usage Note
This is the comparative form of the adverb early, used with 'than' to compare two points or events. When used without 'than' before a noun (the earlier report, an earlier version), it functions adjectivally.
early — idiom
early on
idiomat an early stage in a process, relationship, or period, especially before much has happened or been decided.
Ari realised early on that he wanted to study marine biology instead of engineering.
The team knew early on that the project would need more time and money.
an early night
idiomthe decision to go to bed earlier than usual, typically to rest or recover from tiredness.
After three days of traveling, Devika decided to have an early night and rest.
You look exhausted — you should make it an early night for once.
bright and early
idiomvery early in the morning, often with energy and enthusiasm.
The children woke up bright and early on Christmas morning to open their presents.
Joaquín was at the market bright and early to get the freshest vegetables.
an early bird
idioma person who regularly gets up early in the morning or arrives before others.
Heather is an early bird and likes to finish her work before the office gets noisy.
Early birds who arrive at the cafe before eight o'clock get a discount on coffee.
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: adjective/1
Early, soon, promptly, and ahead of schedule all relate to time but differ in focus. Early means at or before the start of a period or the expected time — the emphasis is on the position relative to a reference point ('She arrived early for the meeting, ten minutes before it started'). Soon means in a short time after now or another event, without reference to whether the timing is early or late ('She arrived soon after the meeting started'). Promptly means without delay and at exactly the right time, emphasising punctuality ('She arrived promptly at nine o'clock, just as agreed'). Ahead of schedule is more formal and typically used for projects, deliveries, or deadlines ('The construction finished ahead of schedule'). Use early when comparing to an expected time, soon when referring to the gap between two events, and promptly when reliability and punctuality are the key message.
Common collocations
Nouns
- early morning
- early stage
- early years
- early childhood
- early days
- early age
- early signs
- early warning
- early evening
Adverbs
- early enough
- too early
- quite early
- as early as
- very early
- fairly early
Phrases
- early in the morning
- early in the day
- early in the week
- early in the year
Prepositions
- by early
- from early
- since early
Etymology
Early comes from Old English 'ǣrlīce', a combination of 'ǣr' (meaning 'before' or 'soon') and the adverbial suffix '-līce' (which became modern '-ly'). The word 'ǣr' traces back to Proto-Germanic '*airiz', meaning 'earlier' or 'sooner', and is related to Gothic 'air' (early), Old High German 'ēr' (before), and Latin 'ātra' (morning). The core meaning — referring to time near the beginning or before the expected point — has remained essentially unchanged for over a thousand years.