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

Take the scene, early on, in which Jeffrey finally gets caught after 45 jobs, with the police arriving at his home during his daughter’s birthday party. —Alison Willmore, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025

Martin, who requested his real name be omitted from this story, knew that from early on in their time together. —Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025

Working on these inward-looking songs has allowed Teasdale and Chambers to feel less hemmed in by their origin story, one that was drawn early on by the press and then chiseled in stone. —Sophie Williams, Billboard, 10 Oct. 2025

Further, Tocchet has already said that both goalies are going to play early on. —Kevin Kurz, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1759, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for early on

• aileron
• antiphon
• autobahn
• carillon
• castellan
• celadon
• cephalon
• chitosan
• cynodon
• denouement
• deuteron
• echelon

Kids Definition

early on

adverb

: at or during an early point or stage

had decided early on not to accept