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
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.
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Recent Examples of early
Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 25 Apr. 2025
Smog has covered cities like Los Angeles since the early 20th century.
—Lillian Ali, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Apr. 2025
CBS News, 11 Apr. 2025
Trump, who, at 78, became the oldest president to be sworn into office, posted on Truth Social earlier in the week.
—Justin Gomez, ABC News, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for early
Adjective
This most recent order was one of several that have dropped in the last week since Hippler took up dozens of motions at an all-day hearing in early April.
—Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 25 Apr. 2025
Smog has covered cities like Los Angeles since the early 20th century.
—Lillian Ali, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Apr. 2025
Adverb
Myers' wife found him in the couple's Calhoun County shed, which had been the backdrop to their wedding 15 months earlier.
—CBS News, 11 Apr. 2025
Trump, who, at 78, became the oldest president to be sworn into office, posted on Truth Social earlier in the week.
—Justin Gomez, ABC News, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for early
Recent Examples of Synonyms for early
Adjective
-
There, another ancient species disappeared long ago and left behind artifacts.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
1 May 2025
-
Accessible by boat, air, or an ancient Roman causeway that appears only at low tide, the sprawling 380-acre island compound is now on the market for £25 million (about $33.2 million) with Knight Frank and Fine & Country.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
1 May 2025
Adjective
-
What’s perhaps unexpected, and has also contributed to Knies’ rise as a bona fide playoff performer?—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
3 May 2025
-
Instead of leaning into the fit’s natural cowboy aesthetic, designers interpreted the fits in a variety of unexpected ways.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
2 May 2025
Adverb
-
The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment.—
Savannah Kuchar,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2025
-
Diego was immediately flown back to the Galápagos to join a last-ditch breeding program in 1977.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
27 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Houde said these mammoth animals are a primitive group of proboscideans ('elephantoids') from which modern elephants evolved.—
Joseph J. Kolb,
Fox News,
18 July 2017
-
Many are primitive and remote, and don’t have restrooms or water.—
OregonLive.com,
OregonLive.com,
12 July 2017
Adjective
-
What’s more, a 2019 study in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine found that diets adequate in vitamin A, vitamin K, magnesium, zinc, and copper were associated with a lower risk of premature death—but only if those vitamins came from food rather than supplements.—
Caroline Tien,
SELF,
28 Apr. 2025
-
The judge said those arguments brought by Democrats were either premature or should be brought by states instead.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Well, a team of scientists unearthed ancient footprints that offer insight into how various prehistoric animals lived as far back as 50 million years.—
Jonathan Limehouse,
USA Today,
20 Apr. 2025
-
Before boarding the barge in Inverness, travelers can visit Culloden Moor, the scene of the famous 1746 battle, a pivotal moment in Outlander and Clava Cairns, the burial site of a prehistoric clan chieftain, widely believed to have inspired the standing stones of Craigh na Dun in the series.—
Emese Maczko,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
On April 28th, a sudden frequency drop in Spain’s power grid triggered cascading shutdowns, leaving millions without power.—
Mark Le Dain,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
-
Then, all of a sudden, one of those teams had one of the top five players in the league fall right in its lap.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
Adverb
-
Unlike Southampton, who promptly dispatched their second manager of this season, Ivan Juric, immediately after relegation was confirmed, there has been a hesitancy about making a change.—
Rob Tanner,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
-
Not wanting to disrupt the church function, Velasquez Cruz stepped outside to check on the monitor only to find immigration agents waiting for him, who promptly detained him.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Early.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/early. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
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