1
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
2
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
as in immediately
before the usual or expected time
that year spring arrived early
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of early
Todd Spangler, Variety, 5 May 2025
With the passing of Pope Francis on April 21, the site noted, Tagle and Parolin emerged as the early favorites, with Parolin moving into the lead and maintaining it ever since.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 4 May 2025
Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 May 2025
Last season, Gibbs’s stats were boosted by week 15-18, where Montgomery went down early in week 15 and then was out for the last three games.
—Steve Bradshaw, Forbes.com, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for early
Adjective
Shares of Lionsgate Studios slipped more than 7% in early trading.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 5 May 2025
With the passing of Pope Francis on April 21, the site noted, Tagle and Parolin emerged as the early favorites, with Parolin moving into the lead and maintaining it ever since.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 4 May 2025
Adverb
In addition to attracting pollinators, butterfly bushes grow fast, produce flowers early in its life cycle, and grow in tough conditions.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 May 2025
Last season, Gibbs’s stats were boosted by week 15-18, where Montgomery went down early in week 15 and then was out for the last three games.
—Steve Bradshaw, Forbes.com, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for early
Recent Examples of Synonyms for early
Adjective
-
Drive around the island and catch glimpses of past civilizations: ancient fig trees propped up by wooden crutches; centuries-old windmills that look like giant antique flyswatters; stone walls built by the Moors during the Middle Ages that somehow still look new.—
Julia Chaplin,
Travel + Leisure,
13 May 2025
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The photo highlights the relative youth of human civilization by showing a 2,500-year-old temple that is ancient by the yardstick of human lives, alongside the 4.5 billion-year-old disk of Earth's moon, which has watched over humanity since our ancestors emerged from the oceans.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
13 May 2025
Adjective
-
In a speech Thursday, Fed Chair Jerome Powell suggested rates could be higher in the long term because of unexpected events that constrain supplies and push up prices.—
Paul Davidson,
USA Today,
16 May 2025
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This was unexpected, as black holes have stronger gravitational fields and were thought to evaporate faster.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
15 May 2025
Adverb
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The clerk's office for Cook County, Illinois, where the pontiff lived previously, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
10 May 2025
-
On hearing the news that the new pope had been chosen Nicole and Ryan, a couple from New York, immediately came down to Saint Peter’s Square.—
Katie Primm,
NBC news,
9 May 2025
Adjective
-
Houde said these mammoth animals are a primitive group of proboscideans ('elephantoids') from which modern elephants evolved.—
Joseph J. Kolb,
Fox News,
18 July 2017
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Many are primitive and remote, and don’t have restrooms or water.—
OregonLive.com,
OregonLive.com,
12 July 2017
Adjective
-
But the president’s declaration of victory may be premature.—
The Editors,
National Review,
8 May 2025
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Cox proportional hazards models were used to investigate the relationship between the control of various factors and premature death.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The existence of any prehistoric apex predators in the islands of the Caribbean used to be doubted.—
Ashley Belanger – May 16,
ArsTechnica,
16 May 2025
-
The original show gave the prehistoric reptiles the nature documentary treatment, offering glimpses of a world that was ruled by dinosaurs millions of years ago through the magic of CGI and animatronics.—
Maira Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2025
Adjective
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The boom in housing demand during these years resulted in a sudden surge in home values and prices in the state, which in turn encouraged an explosion in new construction projects.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 May 2025
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The two global superpowers’ sudden doubling of tariffs in early April forced some businesses to halt production, raising questions about whether supply chains would be able to resume work in time to get products on the shelves for Christmas.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
13 May 2025
Adverb
-
Don’t forget to take advantage of the signature St. Regis butler service, which will promptly fulfill requests for packing needs, garment pressing, restaurant reservations and a cup of steaming chamomile tea to unwind after a long flight.—
Natasha Amar,
Forbes.com,
11 May 2025
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Just then, they were joined by Colin Jost as Hegseth — and Pirro promptly spit red wine in his face in surprise.—
Dave Nemetz,
TVLine,
10 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Early.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/early. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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