Definition

1. Adverb:
   • At a time that is too early; before the proper, usual, or intended time: The action or event occurs sooner than is appropriate, expected, or desired.
   • Before full development, maturity, or readiness: Often implies something is not yet complete or adequately prepared.
   • (Specifically of birth) Occurring before the end of the normal period of gestation: A baby is born before the 37th week of pregnancy.

Usage Examples

• General Use (Too Early):
  • He retired prematurely due to health issues. (He stopped working earlier than the typical age.)
  • The news report was released prematurely, containing several errors. (The report was published before it was ready or verified.)
• Specific Use (Childbirth):
  • The twins were born prematurely and needed special care in the hospital. (The twins were born before completing the full term of pregnancy.)

Advanced Usage

• "to act/decide/judge prematurely": To take action, make a decision, or form a judgment without sufficient information or before the right time.
  • Let's not judge the project's success prematurely; we need more data.
• "prematurely aged": Showing signs of aging much earlier than is typical.
  • Years of stress had left him looking prematurely aged.

Variants and Related Words

• Premature (adjective): Happening, arriving, or done before the proper or usual time.
  • a premature conclusion, a premature baby
• Prematurity (noun): The state of being premature.
  • The prematurity of the infant required a long hospital stay.

Synonyms

• Too soon
• Beforehand
• Early
• Untimely (especially when implying unfortunate timing)

Antonyms

• Belatedly
• Late
• After the fact
• At full term (specific to childbirth)

Related Phrases/Idioms

• "Jump the gun": To start something before the proper time. This idiom is conceptually similar to acting prematurely.
  • They jumped the gun by announcing the deal before the contracts were signed.

Adverb

1. too soon; in a premature manner
   • I spoke prematurely
2. (of childbirth) before the end of the normal period of gestation
   • the child was born prematurely