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
But investigations by media outlets found evidence that nearby Israeli tanks were responsible, with the death of Rajab becoming one of the most high-profile incidents in the early months of the war in Gaza, prompting outrage around the world. — Alex Ritman, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026 Additional rain is possible overnight into early Saturday morning, but higher chances of rain should remain west of the Kansas City area across eastern Kansas, the weather service said. — Kansas City Star, 21 Aug. 2026
Adverb
The redemption came thanks to earlier that drive, when Brooks missed his assignment on a pass protection that forced starting quarterback Bryce Young into his only incompletion on the evening. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 22 Aug. 2026 Icon Sportswire via Getty Images The Toronto Blue Jays have spent much of this season dealing with injuries, and that problem surfaced again on Thursday when another important piece of their infield left a game early. — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 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
  • This ancient city, sited halfway between London and Edinburgh, has a wealth of significant historic attractions dating back to its Ancient Roman origins.
    — Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026
  • During its two-and-a-half-hour descent through Titan’s thick orange atmosphere, Huygens captured the first-ever views of the surface, revealing river channels, ancient shorelines and a landscape shaped by liquid methane rather than water.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of ancient
Adjective
  • His unexpected sale of the Lakers kicked off a new chapter in the long running feud between the children of previous owner Jerry Buss.
    — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
  • In 2019, almost 18 months after enlisting, Haleigh’s life took an unexpected turn.
    — Dateline NBC, NBC news, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of unexpected
Adverb
  • Hansen’s attorney, who is with the Post-Conviction Justice Project at University of Southern California Gould School of Law, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday afternoon.
    — Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Dehqani said reconstruction work began immediately after the refinery was hit during the 12-day war between Iran and Israel in 2025.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of immediately
Adjective
  • The Düsseldorf group’s version of LUCA would have possessed many of the ingredients needed by living systems, including a primitive form of genetic encoding, as well as metabolic chemical reactions required to harness energy.
    — Philip Ball, Scientific American, 20 Aug. 2026
  • If Russia behaved badly, that was the fault of its primitive and cruel Asian side, a notion that conveniently created the fiction that Western countries are not capable of similar cruelty.
    — Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of primitive
Adjective
  • Carro previously said that argument was premature because the federal case had not been resolved.
    — Adam Reiss, NBC news, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The kuru epidemic had ended, but premature deaths continued; according to one count, one in eight children in the eastern highlands died before the age of five.
    — Rachel Aviv, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of premature
Adverb
  • Finally, in the Harvard case, the complaint said that DOJ attorneys raised grave legal concerns after the government moved to cut off the school's funding prematurely and sought a settlement before any investigation had been completed.
    — Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Within years, the iconoclastic comic was a weary and defeated man — broke, baggy-eyed, and prematurely old.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of prematurely
Adjective
  • The Museum includes creative work from prehistoric cave paintings to today’s on-screen art.
    — Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • That means a stretch of riverbank can look completely ordinary one season and reveal evidence of prehistoric life after a major weather event or prolonged change in water levels.
    — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of prehistoric
Adjective
  • The sudden push toward scale marks a shift for a technology that spent years looking more like a Silicon Valley experiment than a serious alternative to putting a package in a car.
    — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The morning after their fight, Russia invades Ukraine, and the two go on with their separation amid the backdrop of sudden social upheaval.
    — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 21 Aug. 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 23 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of early for Spanish Speakers

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