Meaning of early in English | Powered by Free Dictionary API

noun

• A shift (scheduled work period) that takes place early in the day.

adjective

• At a time in advance of the usual or expected event.

  Example: at eleven, we went for an early lunch;  she began reading at an early age;  his mother suffered an early death

• Arriving a time before expected; sooner than on time.

  Example: The early guests sipped their punch and avoided each other's eyes.

• Near the start or beginning.

  Example: Early results showed their winning 245 out of 300 seats in parliament. The main opponent locked up only 31 seats.

• Having begun to occur; in its early stages.

  Example: early cancer

• Of a star or class of stars, hotter than the sun.

adverb

• At a time before expected; sooner than usual.

  Example: We finished the project an hour sooner than scheduled, so we left early.

• Soon; in good time; seasonably.