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

The game commenced with four unanswered scores from Jenks and sloppy play from Southlake Carroll that included a handful of early penalties, messy substitutions and a lack of rhythm. — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Aug. 2026 Fiction writers and poets, from Henry James to Walt Whitman, have revised and reissued early works. — ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026

Adverb

Three winemakers earlier this month filed suit against the owner of Hundred Acre Wines, Jayson Woodbridge, and his company alleging that smoke from the wildfire ruined their harvests, the Press Democrat reported. — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026 Both of his runs of 30-plus yards — the 36-yard scamper on the opening drive and a 38-yard run early in the second quarter — put North Miami Beach into the red zone. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for early

Recent Examples of Synonyms for early

Adjective

Like yoga or dance, the experience is a workout that feels in alignment with the body’s natural movements, at an intensity appropriate to wielding an ancient weapon.

— Rebecca Leib, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026
Villa Celimontana dates to the 16th century, when it was developed as a noble residence on Caelian Hill, one of the seven hills of ancient Rome.

— Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of ancient

Adverb

But that bipartisan effort was immediately panned by conservative groups, and little else has emerged as a serious solution.

— Ashley Lopez, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026
Though freshman Jackson Cantwell likely could have stepped in immediately at left tackle, the junior Okunlola has the game experience (albeit mostly at guard) that should serve him well in taking on the opponent’s best edge rusher.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of immediately

Adjective

When the Followers began, healthcare on the Western frontier was primitive, unsanitary and riddled with con artists peddling fake cures.

— Audrey Dutton, ProPublica, 25 Aug. 2026
In an early study, researchers collected about five hours of primitive tennis movements from amateur players using a compact motion-capture setup.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of primitive

Adverb

Chronic stress, and specifically the stress hormone, cortisol, can push hair follicles prematurely out of the growth cycle into the resting-and-shedding phases.

— Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 25 Aug. 2026
Abbott Laboratories has agreed to pay $670 million to settle a high-profile lawsuit and claims made on behalf of thousands of others related to allegations that its formula for babies born prematurely causes a dangerous intestinal disease.

— Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of prematurely

Adjective

My kids could never get enough of Dinosaur Land, a walk-through theme park with more than 50 life-sized replicas of these beloved prehistoric creatures made out of fiberglass.

— Allison Tibaldi, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
This caused the prehistoric Tethys Ocean, which once separated the supercontinents of Laurasia and Gondwana, to shrink.

— Tim Lister, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of prehistoric

Adjective

Officials are still investigating the exact cause, though preliminary assessments suggest an ice avalanche may have blocked a river upstream in Tibet, triggering the sudden outburst flood.

— Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
The concierge can be contacted via WhatsApp, but response times can be slow during varying rush hours; for example, a sudden tropical rainstorm might inspire half the resort to call in for room service.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of sudden

Browse Nearby Words

earls

early

earmark

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Early.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/early. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of early

adjective

adverb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

illustrious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 28

Why do we say 'break a leg'?

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes