early Definition
- 1happening or done before the usual or expected time
- 2belonging to a period far back in time
- 3occurring in the near future
Using early: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "early" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
I woke up early this morning to go for a run.
Example
The early bird catches the worm.
Example
She was an early adopter of new technology.
Example
Early humans used stone tools for hunting and gathering.
Example
We need to leave early to avoid traffic.
early Synonyms and Antonyms
Idioms Using early
Example
We have to wake up bright and early to catch the first train.
a proverb that means people who go to bed early and wake up early are healthy, wealthy, and wise
Example
My grandfather always says, 'Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.'
Example
The early bird gets the best deals at the farmer's market.
Phrases with early
Example
Early on in his career, he realized he wanted to be a writer.
a period of time at the beginning of something when it is still developing or has not yet become established
Example
It's still early days for the new project, but we're making good progress.
early warning
advance notice of a potential danger or problem
Example
The earthquake gave us an early warning to evacuate the building.
Origins of early
from Old English 'ǣrlīce', meaning 'soon' or 'early'
Summary: early in Brief
The adjective 'early' [ˈɜːrli] describes something that happens or is done before the usual or expected time, or belongs to a period far back in time. It can also refer to something that will happen in the near future. Examples include 'I woke up early this morning,' and 'Early humans used stone tools.' Phrases like 'early on' and idioms like 'early bird' extend the concept of earliness.
