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early

ear·ly
E e

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [ur-lee]
    • /ˈɜr li/
    • /ˈɜːli/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [ur-lee]
    • /ˈɜr li/

Definitions of early word

  • adverb early in or during the first part of a period of time, a course of action, a series of events, etc.: early in the year. 1
  • adverb early in the early part of the morning: to get up early. 1
  • adverb early before the usual or appointed time; ahead of time: They came early and found their hosts still dressing. 1
  • adverb early far back in time: The Greeks early learned to sail and navigate. 1
  • adjective early 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. 1
  • adjective early occurring before the usual or appointed time: an early dinner. 1

Information block about the term

Origin of early

First appearance:

before 950
One of the 4% oldest English words
before 950; Middle English erlich (adj.), erliche (adv.), Old English ǣrlīc, ǣrlīce, mutated variant of ārlīc, ārlīce, equivalent to ār- early (positive of ǣr ere) + līc(e) -ly

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Early

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

early popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 100% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

early usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for early

adj early

  • previous — coming or occurring before something else; prior: the previous owner.
  • fresh — newly made or obtained: fresh footprints.
  • initial — of, relating to, or occurring at the beginning; first: the initial step in a process.
  • new — other than the former or the old: a new era; in the New World.
  • recent — of late occurrence, appearance, or origin; lately happening, done, made, etc.: recent events; a recent trip.

adv early

  • immediate — occurring or accomplished without delay; instant: an immediate reply.
  • advanced — An advanced system, method, or design is modern and has been developed from an earlier version of the same thing.
  • direct — to manage or guide by advice, helpful information, instruction, etc.: He directed the company through a difficult time.
  • immature — not mature, ripe, developed, perfected, etc.
  • precocious — unusually advanced or mature in development, especially mental development: a precocious child.

adjective early

  • primary — first or highest in rank or importance; chief; principal: his primary goals in life.
  • primaeval — of or relating to the first age or ages, especially of the world: primeval forms of life.
  • hasty — moving or acting with haste; speedy; quick; hurried.

adverb early

  • early on — in or during the first part of a period of time, a course of action, a series of events, etc.: early in the year.
  • now — at the present time or moment: You are now using a dictionary.

Antonyms for early

adj early

  • future — time that is to be or come hereafter.
  • worn — past participle of wear.
  • later — occurring, coming, or being after the usual or proper time: late frosts; a late spring.
  • old — far advanced in the years of one's or its life: an old man; an old horse; an old tree.
  • late — occurring, coming, or being after the usual or proper time: late frosts; a late spring.

adjective early

  • tardy — late; behind time; not on time: How tardy were you today?

Top questions with early

  • how early can you take a pregnancy test?
  • how to wake up early?
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See also

Matching words

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