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
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Recent Examples of early
Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 19 May 2025
Their early existence could have then helped in the development of the solar system's planets.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 19 May 2025
Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 May 2025
Last season, Gibbs’s stats were boosted by week 15-18, where Montgomery went down early in week 15 and then was out for the last three games.
—Steve Bradshaw, Forbes.com, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for early
Adjective
The company later filed a motion to enforce the earlier injunction from the court.
—Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 19 May 2025
Their early existence could have then helped in the development of the solar system's planets.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 19 May 2025
Adverb
In addition to attracting pollinators, butterfly bushes grow fast, produce flowers early in its life cycle, and grow in tough conditions.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 May 2025
Last season, Gibbs’s stats were boosted by week 15-18, where Montgomery went down early in week 15 and then was out for the last three games.
—Steve Bradshaw, Forbes.com, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for early
Recent Examples of Synonyms for early
Adjective
-
The photo highlights the relative youth of human civilization by showing a 2,500-year-old temple that is ancient by the yardstick of human lives, alongside the 4.5 billion-year-old disk of Earth's moon, which has watched over humanity since our ancestors emerged from the oceans.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
13 May 2025
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Drive around the island and catch glimpses of past civilizations: ancient fig trees propped up by wooden crutches; centuries-old windmills that look like giant antique flyswatters; stone walls built by the Moors during the Middle Ages that somehow still look new.—
Julia Chaplin,
Travel + Leisure,
13 May 2025
Adjective
-
In a speech Thursday, Fed Chair Jerome Powell suggested rates could be higher in the long term because of unexpected events that constrain supplies and push up prices.—
Paul Davidson,
USA Today,
16 May 2025
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Related article Pope Leo XIV’s unexpected New Orleans Creole background excites city’s large Catholic community The boy whose deep sense of community and compassion was molded by his experiences in the village of Dolton was made a cardinal later that year.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
15 May 2025
Adverb
-
Trump suspends refugee program for most, except Afrikaners Upon taking office, Trump immediately suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and ordered most potential refugees to remain in other countries.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
22 May 2025
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Representatives for McStay did not immediately respond to Entertainment Weekly's request for comment.—
Shania Russell,
EW.com,
21 May 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
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Many are primitive and remote, and don’t have restrooms or water.—
OregonLive.com,
OregonLive.com,
12 July 2017
Adjective
-
The premature leaf drop brought on by hot, dry weather is most pronounced on large-leafed, fast-growing shade trees such as cottonwoods, silver maples, catalpas, sycamores and mulberries, among others.—
Neil Sperry,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 May 2025
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The Commonwealth Fund’s 2023 Scorecard on State Health System Performance ranked states based on several factors including premature death rates and healthcare access and affordability.—
Madeline Mitchell,
USA Today,
22 May 2025
Adjective
-
The existence of any prehistoric apex predators in the islands of the Caribbean used to be doubted.—
Ashley Belanger – May 16,
ArsTechnica,
16 May 2025
-
The original show gave the prehistoric reptiles the nature documentary treatment, offering glimpses of a world that was ruled by dinosaurs millions of years ago through the magic of CGI and animatronics.—
Maira Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2025
Adjective
-
His retirement wasn’t sudden, and the scheduling team has slowly been preparing for this transition over the past few years.—
Jayna Bardahl,
New York Times,
13 May 2025
-
The boom in housing demand during these years resulted in a sudden surge in home values and prices in the state, which in turn encouraged an explosion in new construction projects.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 May 2025
Adverb
-
Refrigerate leftovers promptly in small containers.—
Mike Snider,
USA Today,
25 May 2025
-
Assad promptly fled to his new life in exile in Moscow.—
Paul Iddon,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Early.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/early. Accessed 27 May. 2025.
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