early 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of earlynext
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

early

2 of 2

adverb

ˈər-lē How to pronounce early (audio)
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
Alexandra Cinta, in her early 20s and one of the group’s youngest members, wears a flutter of false eyelashes and sharp wings of black eyeliner. — Zoey Goto, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2026 Kenwood’s earlier proposal for a boutique hotel and music venue stalled over parking constraints. — Charlotte Observer, 30 Oct. 2026
Adverb
One problem is that cutting-edge engines that burn hotter and use less fuel are coming up for maintenance far earlier than airlines expected. — Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026 Discovering Lofoten’s foodways Kitchen on the Edge of the World books up fast, so reserve your spot early. — Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for early
Recent Examples of Synonyms for early
  1. ancient
  2. unexpected
  3. immediately
  4. primitive
  5. premature
  6. prematurely
  7. prehistoric
  8. sudden
Adjective
  • Even the climbing-vine wallpaper is yellowed, as if gradually discolored by the cigarettes of a thousand ancient Sundays.
    — Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Madrid sits on an ancient migration route that has always been part of a vast grid of farming paths covering the Iberian Peninsula.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of ancient
Adjective
  • Key Takeaways The experiment revealed an unexpected way to manipulate the weak magnetism inside an atomic nucleus.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Still, something unexpected may force you to try a different method, schedule, or approach that ends up working better.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of unexpected
Adverb
  • Representatives for Payne, Hemingson and Focus Features did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
    — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2026
  • The Houthis did not immediately claim responsibility for the attacks.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 31 Oct. 2026
Definition of immediately
Adjective
  • In 2019, Samsung released the original Galaxy Fold with a much more primitive hinge design.
    — Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 27 Oct. 2026
  • American consumers deserved bargains on digital watches, pocket calculators, and primitive computers.
    — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of primitive
Adjective
  • Ramirez, who was born and raised in La Cañada Flintridge and worked at the resort in the 1990s, said the news release was premature.
    — Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
  • During pregnancy, invasive listeriosis can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection in newborns.
    — Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of premature
Adverb
  • Gonzalez declined to specify the exact injury that prematurely ended his preseason competition with Patterson.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026
  • In a civil lawsuit against the city and the state, Los Angeles firefighters testified about a series of communication failures and questionable decisions by higher-ups that led crews to leave the area of the New Year’s Day fire prematurely.
    — Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of prematurely
Adjective
  • Other witnesses reported smaller, hairy creatures, a prehistoric-looking bird and a worm allegedly measuring 8 feet long.
    — Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
  • But moving beyond prehistoric time to the last century, comparison still had constraints.
    — Ashwini Nadkarni, Time, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of prehistoric
Adjective
  • Lucy leaves their countryside home with Johnny immediately, going straight to her mother’s house ( Catherine Deneuve plays mom), but avoids telling her, or anyone else, the specifics of this sudden separation.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026
  • All of a sudden, the war took on a more present form, unsettling a kingdom unused to conflicts playing out on home turf.
    — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of sudden

Browse Nearby Words

earls
early
earmark
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Cite this Entry

“Early.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/early. Accessed 2 Nov. 2026.

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