EARLY Synonyms: 72 Similar and Opposite Words

early 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of early

as in ancient

relating to or occurring near the beginning of a process, series, or time period early birds of the Jurassic period

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in unexpected

occurring before the usual or expected time we had an early dinner so as not to miss the concert

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

early

2 of 2

adverb

ˈər-lē

as in immediately

before the usual or expected time that year spring arrived early

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of early

Adjective

Heck, the city almost lost out on Messi altogether, with Argentina barely escaping Cape Verde in an early knockout match Friday night. — Sam McDowell July 3, Kansas City Star, 4 July 2026 All that to say, a glass of rye whiskey, one of the oldest drinks in America and the original base of many of our earliest cocktails like Manhattans and Old Fashioneds, is an easy way to honor the scrappy American spirit. — Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 4 July 2026

Adverb

In New York City, the Macy's Fourth of July fireworks started a little earlier than scheduled to beat incoming storms. — Jon Haworth, ABC News, 5 July 2026 The Secret Service said earlier this evening that all attendees who evacuated the venue due to orders to shelter from approaching severe storms would have to go through security screenings again. — Kyla Guilfoil, NBC news, 5 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for early

Recent Examples of Synonyms for early

Adjective

That verdant vista of a piece of ancient, intricate architecture centered me in storied Osaka and proved a delightfully consistent through line for my stay.

— Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026
This phenomenon of gravitational lensing has been used to great effect to study ancient galaxies that would usually be too distant and faint to see when they are gravitationally lensed by foreground galaxy clusters.

— Robert Lea, Space.com, 6 July 2026

Definition of ancient

Adjective

Artisan Market Thoughtful, small-batch cookies made with intention and inspired by unexpected flavors.

— RS Editors, Rolling Stone, 2 July 2026
And while many know Mariska Hargitay from her decades-long run on Law & Order or as one of the Knicks' biggest hype women, she can also be considered among fashion's unexpected trendsetters.

— Amanda Le, InStyle, 2 July 2026

Definition of unexpected

Adverb

Affidavits supporting the Johnsons’ arrests were not immediately available Friday evening.

— Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 July 2026
Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, who voted against the proposal in mid-June, voiced fears that the list of noncitizen voters would immediately be seized by federal immigration authorities.

— Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026

Definition of immediately

Adjective

For now, the Census numbers indicate that calls predicting remote work’s demise may have been premature.

— Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 5 July 2026
The brand uses tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, a gentle, stabilized form of vitamin C that brightens and protects against premature aging.

— Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 4 July 2026

Definition of premature

Adverb

In December 2022, his son was born prematurely after an emergency C-section and needed expensive intensive care.

— Gonzalo Zegarra, CNN Money, 7 July 2026
But to forcibly take their jobs from all controllers prematurely simply to follow some rigid sunset script is a terrible loss for the very shareholders the governistas claim to protect.

— Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 6 July 2026

Definition of prematurely

Adjective

Millions of years ago, the peaceful water, lack of scavengers, and fine sediment created perfect conditions for preserving these plentiful prehistoric fossils—fish, alligators, stingrays, turtles, and even small horses have been found here.

— Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 July 2026
The site dates to Thailand’s late prehistoric period, also known as the Iron Age, which lasted roughly 2,500 to 1,500 years ago.

— Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 7 July 2026

Definition of prehistoric

Adjective

Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.

— CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 4 July 2026
Small Holes One sign of snakes in your garden could be the sudden appearance of small holes that could be about the size of a small coin, or up to two inches.

— Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 3 July 2026

Definition of sudden

Browse Nearby Words

earls

early

earmark

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Style

“Early.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/early. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of early

adjective

adverb

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