adj

early

UR-lee

adj

Happening or arriving before the expected or usual time.

"We caught an early flight to avoid the traffic."

"It's still early days for the project."

adv

Before the usual or expected time.

"She always wakes up early, even on weekends."

How to Use Early

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSooner than expected, or near the beginning of something.

Common mistake

"Early" works as both an adjective and adverb without changing form — "an early start" and "arrive early" are both correct.

Common pairings

early morning early bird early days early on

earlier comparative, earlier comparative, earlies plural, Earlys plural, earliest superlative, earliest superlative

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We caught an _____ flight to avoid the traffic.

From Old English ǣrlīċ, combining ere ("before") with the adjective suffix "-ly".

early doors prematurely

late terminal mid middle tardily

dead sunset terminal center middle late obstinate recently

Carly marly yearly gnarly nearly pearly dearly Charly clearly similarly regularly scholarly

early doors prematurely late terminal mid middle tardily dead sunset center obstinate recently