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

In the early morning of July 1, federal immigration officers in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, pulled over a white SUV. — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 18 July 2026 Capacity reached roughly 77 million tons a year by the early 2010s, and for most of the following decade Qatar was the world's largest LNG exporter, a position the United States and Australia now rival. — Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026

Adverb

The Current looked listless early — and Byars made the host team pay. — The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 18 July 2026 In 2010, the TOM study (Testosterone in Older Men with Mobility Limitations) was halted early due to a higher incidence of major cardiac events (including heart attacks and strokes) in those taking testosterone replacement therapy. — Alexander P. Cole, STAT, 18 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for early

Recent Examples of Synonyms for early

Adjective

These fashion houses interpreted the pearls as decorative elements with both ancient and ultramodern appeal.

— Selene Oliva, Glamour, 13 July 2026
Elizabeth Pupo-Walker on percussion, who found an old ancient rusted paper cutter at Concord and loved the sound of it, so that’s on there at the beginning off .

— Chris Willman, Variety, 13 July 2026

Definition of ancient

Adjective

But somewhere between talking about recipes and the future of food, the conversation took an unexpected turn.

— Monti Carlo, AJC.com, 17 July 2026
Aside from simply driving through Yellowstone, taking in the sights on foot resulted in 15 deaths through accidental falls, exposure, unexpected medical issues, and run-ins with animals like bison or bears.

— Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 16 July 2026

Definition of unexpected

Adjective

After observation, scientists learned the meteorite was a CM1/2 carbonaceous chondrite -- an exceptionally rare and primitive type of meteorite, according to a paper published in Science Advances on Wednesday.

— Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 17 July 2026
There are two types of primitive CM meteorites — CM1 and CM2 — and the biggest difference between them is how much water altered their composition while they were attached to a larger asteroid.

— Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 15 July 2026

Definition of primitive

Adjective

Its companies research therapeutic psychedelics and treatments for premature ejaculation.

— Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 13 July 2026
Otherwise, the moves were mostly low-key (a new backup goaltender, a bottom-six wing) rather than an overreaction to another premature playoff exit.

— Scott Turick, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 July 2026

Definition of premature

Adverb

The spacecraft skipped the burn after a Raptor engine shut down prematurely during the launch sequence.

— Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 14 July 2026
Wool has a protective oil on it called lanolin, which is removed by the laundry stripping process, and would result in the fibers prematurely wearing down.

— Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 12 July 2026

Definition of prematurely

Adjective

The site was dated to a late prehistoric era in Thailand, a period of human settlement also known as the Iron Age, established to be around 1,500 to 2,500 years ago.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026
Marine diets have been documented in modern wolves living in coastal Alaska and British Columbia, but researchers say there is no previous evidence of wolves in prehistoric Scandinavia relying so heavily on seafood.

— Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 9 July 2026

Definition of prehistoric

Adjective

The film centers on Prabha, a troubled young man whose sudden and unexplained death triggers a ripple effect across his extended family and community.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 July 2026
Cyclosporiasis symptoms include sudden, watery and occasionally explosive diarrhea—these symptoms usually appear between two days and two weeks after ingesting the parasite.

— Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 17 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 19 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of early

adjective

adverb

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