What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
prematurely
Example
The baby was born prematurely and had to stay in the hospital for several weeks. [prematurely: adverb]
Example
He prematurely ended the meeting before everyone had a chance to speak. [prematurely: adverb]
early
Example
I woke up early this morning to go for a run. [early: adverb]
Example
The store opened early to accommodate the holiday rush. [early: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Early is a more common word than prematurely in everyday language. Early is a versatile word that can be used in a wide range of contexts, while prematurely is more specific and less commonly used.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between prematurely and early?
Both early and prematurely can be used in formal and informal contexts, but prematurely may be considered more formal due to its specificity and technical usage in certain fields such as medicine or science.
