early
/'ə:li/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective:
- Near the beginning of a period, process, or sequence: Occurring or done before the usual or expected time, or at the beginning of a specified period.
- Belonging to a distant past or a former time: Relating to the initial stages of history, development, or existence.
- Expected in the near future: Happening soon.
Adverb:
- Before the usual or expected time: Happening or done sooner than is typical or scheduled.
- Near the beginning of a period or sequence: At a point not far from the start.
Examples of Usage
Adjective:
- She is an early riser. (She wakes up before the usual time.)
- We studied early forms of writing. (We studied writing from the initial stages of its development.)
- An early reply would be appreciated. (A reply happening soon is desired.)
Adverb:
- The train arrived early. (The train arrived before its scheduled time.)
- He started his career early in life. (He began his career at a young age, near the start of his life.)
Advanced Usage
- "early on": at an initial or early stage in a process or period.
- I realized early on that the project would be difficult.
- "at the earliest": not before the time specified; indicating the soonest possible time.
- The report will be ready next week at the earliest.
- "early bird" (idiomatic noun): a person who rises, arrives, or acts before the usual time.
- The early bird gets the worm.
Variants and Related Words
- Earlier (adj/adv): comparative form of 'early'; happening before the present time or before the time in question.
- I saw her earlier today.
- Earliest (adj): superlative form of 'early'; happening before all others.
- This is the earliest known example.
- Earlyish (adj/adv, informal): fairly early.
- Let's meet at an earlyish hour.
Synonyms
- Premature: happening or done before the proper or usual time (often with a negative connotation).
- Untimely: occurring at an unsuitable time, especially earlier than expected.
- Initial: existing or occurring at the beginning.
- Advance: done or given before an event.
Related Phrasal Verbs/Phrases
- Get up early: to wake and rise from bed before the usual time.
- I need to get up early for my flight.
- Call it an early night: to go to bed earlier than usual.
- I'm tired; I'm going to call it an early night.
Related Idioms
- The early bird catches the worm: a proverb meaning that the person who takes the earliest opportunity to do something will gain an advantage.
- I always arrive first at the sales; the early bird catches the worm.
- Bright and early: very early in the morning.
- We'll need to leave bright and early tomorrow.
- It's early days (yet): it is too soon to be sure about the eventual outcome of a situation.
- The team has lost a few games, but it's early days.
Adjective
- expected in the near future
- look for an early end to the negotiations
- of an early stage in the development of a language or literature
- the Early Hebrew alphabetical script is that used mainly from the 11th to the 6th centuries B.C.
- Early Modern English is represented in documents printed from 1476 to 1700
- very young
- at an early age
- belonging to the distant past
- the early inhabitants of Europe
- former generations
- in other times
- being or occurring at an early stage of development
- in an early stage
- early forms of life
- early man
- an early computer
- at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
- early morning
- an early warning
- early diagnosis
- an early death
- took early retirement
- an early spring
- early varieties of peas and tomatoes mature before most standard varieties
Adverb
- in good time
- he awoke betimes that morning
- before the usual time or the time expected
- she graduated early
- the house was completed ahead of time
- during an early stage
- early on in her career