early

Etymology

Definitions

1. 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. 2

   Arriving a time before expected

   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. 3

   After but close to the start of a period of time.

   • 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.
   • 'Twas early June, the new grass was flourishing everywheres, the posies in the yard—peonies and such—in full bloom, the sun was shining, and the water of the bay was blue, with light green streaks where the shoal showed.
4. ›+ 7 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      In the starting hours of the day.

      • It's too early for this sort of thing. I'm not awake yet.
   2. 5

      Having begun to occur

      Having begun to occur; in its early stages.

      • early cancer
      • harvesting early peaches
   3. 6

      Of a star or class of stars, hotter than the sun.

   4. 7

      A shift (scheduled work period) that takes place early in the day.

      • On my first day on the watch after leaving the shoplifting squad I paraded on earlies but had completely forgotten to take my ear ring off.
   5. 8

      At a time before expected

      At a time before expected; sooner than usual.

      • We finished the project an hour sooner than scheduled, so we left early.
      • I had children too early (in life), so my first baby arrived early.
      • No matter how early I came down, I would find him on the veranda, smoking cigarettes, or otherwise his man would be there with a message to say that his master would shortly join me if I would kindly wait.
   6. 9

      Soon

      Soon; in good time; seasonably.

      • [T]thoſe that ſeeke me early, ſhall find me.
      • You must wake and call me early, call me early, mother dear; / Tomorrow 'ill be the happiest time of all the blythe Newyear; […]
   7. 10

      A surname.

The neighborhood

• synonymearly
• synonymearly doors
• synonymprematurely
• antonymlateat a time in advance of the usual
• antonymterminalillness: having begun to occur
• antonymmid
• antonymmiddle
• antonymtardily
• neighborpremature
• neighborinitial