(earlier, earliest)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
Early means before the usual time that a particular event or activity happens.
I knew I had to get up early...
Why do we have to go to bed so early?
? late
ADV: ADV after v
•
Early is also an adjective.
I decided that I was going to take early retirement...
I planned an early night.
ADJ: ADJ n
2.
Early means near the beginning of a day, week, year, or other period of time.
...in the 1970s and the early 1980s.
...a few weeks in early summer...
She was in her early teens.
...the early hours of Saturday morning.
? late
ADJ: ADJ n
•
Early is also an adverb.
We'll hope to see you some time early next week.
...early in the season.
ADV: ADV with cl, ADV n/prep
3.
Early means before the time that was arranged or expected.
She arrived early to secure a place at the front...
The first snow came a month earlier than usual.
? late
ADV: ADV after v
•
Early is also an adjective.
I'm always early.
ADJ
4.
Early means near the beginning of a period in history, or in the history of something such as the world, a society, or an activity.
...the early stages of pregnancy.
...Fassbinder's early films...
It's too early to declare his efforts a success.
ADJ: ADJ n
5.
Early means near the beginning of something such as a piece of work or a process.
...the book's early chapters.
ADJ: ADJ n
•
Early is also an adverb.
...an incident which occurred much earlier in the game.
ADV: ADV with cl, ADV prep
6.
Early refers to plants which flower or crop before or at the beginning of the main season.
...these early cabbages and cauliflowers.
ADJ: ADJ n
•
Early is also an adverb.
...early flowering shrubs.
ADV: ADV with v
7.
Early reports or indications of something are the first reports or indications about it. (FORMAL)
The early indications look encouraging...
ADJ: ADJ n
8.
You can use as early as to emphasize that a particular time or period is surprisingly early.
Inflation could fall back into single figures as early as this month.
PHRASE: PHR n [emphasis]
9.
If you say about something that might be true that it is early days, you mean that it is too soon for you to be completely sure about it. (INFORMAL)
PHRASE: V inflects