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

Opponents said that earlier ordinance, which allowed home sizes to more than double to 3,000 square feet, threatened to turn the island into Georgia’s next coastal development hot spot. — Adam Van Brimmer, AJC.com, 8 Aug. 2026 These hot temperatures, the subject of Thursday’s forecast, will roast the Central Valley and inland California all weekend with heat well above normal for early August. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Adverb

However, the movie didn’t depict how Bourdain graduated high school a year early to follow Nancy to Vassar. — Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 8 Aug. 2026 Her arrest was documented in the pilot episode of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, and the video of the incident resurfaced earlier this year. — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 8 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for early

Recent Examples of Synonyms for early

Adjective

Legend has it, Sperlonga was a stop on Odysseus's journey, and a group of ancient sculptures depicting scenes from the Odyssey were found in the grotto adjacent to the villa.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026
Atolls are formed by ancient volcanic islands surrounded by coral reefs.

— NPR, NPR, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of ancient

Adjective

She’s gone for unexpected pairings and silhouettes, including a blazer with satin short shorts, voluminous detached sleeves, and a chainmail-like armor made breezy through fringe.

— Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
Compressed color values—in contrast to the wide modulations in tone that Cassatt allowed elsewhere—heighten the sense of mass, while unexpected bright blue outlines seal their contours.

— Carmen Rosenberg-Miller, Artforum, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of unexpected

Adverb

Reading it immediately quells, or at least quelled my own, paranoia at being alone in the middle of the forest—nobody is getting got here, there’s a gate that only opens if the concierge approves of your face, voice, and name.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Aug. 2026
The relationship of the women, both 28, to the child was not immediately clear.

— Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of immediately

Adjective

Some researchers have argued that LUCA was a complex cell with a primitive immune system to protect against viruses.

— Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2026
Porous feet deliver The researchers designed and 3D-printed three hemispherical TPMS variants—primitive, gyroid and diamond—and evaluated their mechanical properties through compression testing.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of primitive

Adjective

Jehan acknowledges there's no silver bullet to prevent premature births.

— Diaa Hadid, NPR, 2 Aug. 2026
Vehicle emissions can cause lung damage and worsen respiratory conditions like asthma and bronchitis, and have been linked to heart disease, cancer and premature death.

— Richard Marcantonio, The Conversation, 31 July 2026

Definition of premature

Adverb

Rapid weight loss is a physiological stressor that can push hair follicles prematurely out of their growth phase and into a resting phase.

— Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
There is enough cushion between there and the current price that routine volatility will not shake you out prematurely.

— Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of prematurely

Adjective

In the path of totality, a low, milky sky may hide the corona, but that also makes the darkness feel heavier and more sudden.

— Jamie Carter, Space.com, 7 Aug. 2026
The former employee said that there are informal support groups among alumni, more for navigating a flood of financial advisors and figuring out what to do with sudden wealth than for organizing trades.

— Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 7 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 9 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of early

adjective

adverb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on early

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

anecdote

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

How long is a jiffy?

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes