early on
adverb
: at or during an early point or stage
the reasons were obvious early on in the experiment
Using Early on: Usage Guide
This adverb is sometimes objected to in American writing as an obtrusive Briticism. It is a relative newcomer to the language, having arisen in British English around 1928. It seems to have filled a need, however. It came into frequent use in American English in the late 1960s and is now well established on both sides of the Atlantic in both speech and writing.
Examples of early on in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The persona coincided with the 2015 launch of her makeup brand, Kylie Cosmetics, and helped define her brand identity early on.
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Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Abrams also noted how much she was inspired by Lauper taking such creative control over her career early on.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 17 Oct. 2025
In the exclusive clip, Walken recalls meeting Jerry and Anne early on in their careers.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Oct. 2025
There’s also a gun—indeed, many—and, unlike Chekhov, both Ibsen and DaCosta fire the weapon early on.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for early on
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Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Abrams also noted how much she was inspired by Lauper taking such creative control over her career early on.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 17 Oct. 2025
In the exclusive clip, Walken recalls meeting Jerry and Anne early on in their careers.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Oct. 2025
There’s also a gun—indeed, many—and, unlike Chekhov, both Ibsen and DaCosta fire the weapon early on.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for early on
Cite this Entry
“Early on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/early%20on. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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