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Added 3 October 2026

early

/ˈɜːli/ adjective

In Latin: mātūtīnus, praecox Wiktionary

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about early at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

At a time in advance of the usual or expected event.
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.
You're early today! I don't usually see you before nine o'clock.
After but close to the start of a period of time.
The play "Two Gentlemen of Verona" is one of Shakespeare's early works.

noun

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

adverb

At a time before expected; sooner than usual.
We finished the project an hour sooner than scheduled, so we left early.
Soon; in good time; seasonably.

Origin

From Middle English erly, erlich, earlich, from Old English ǣrlīċ (“early”, adjective), equivalent to ere + -ly.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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