- early
- [[t]ɜ͟ː(r)li[/t]]
♦1) ADV-GRADED: ADV after v Early means before the usual time that a particular event or activity happens.
I knew I had to get up early...
Why do we have to go to bed so early?
Ant:ADJ-GRADED: ADJ nEarly is also an adjective.I decided that I was going to take early retirement... I planned an early night.
2) ADJ-GRADED: ADJ n Early means near the beginning of a day, week, year, or other period of time....in the 1970s and the early 1980s.
...a few weeks in early summer...
She was in her early teens.
...the early hours of Saturday morning.
Ant:ADV-GRADED: ADV with cl, ADV n/prepEarly is also an adverb.We'll hope to see you some time early next week. ...early in the season.
3) ADV-GRADED: ADV after v Early means before the time that was arranged or expected.She arrived early to secure a place at the front...
The first snow came a month earlier than usual.
Ant:ADJ-GRADEDEarly is also an adjective.I'm always early.
4) ADJ-GRADED: ADJ n Early means near the beginning of a period in history, or in the history of something such as the world, a society, or an activity....the early stages of pregnancy.
...Fassbinder's early films.
...the early days of the occupation...
It's too early to declare his efforts a success.
5) ADJ-GRADED: ADJ n Early means near the beginning of something such as a piece of work or a process....the book's early chapters.
ADV-GRADED: ADV with cl, ADV prepEarly is also an adverb....an incident which occurred much earlier in the game.
6) ADJ-GRADED: ADJ n Early refers to plants which flower or crop before or at the beginning of the main season....these early cabbages and cauliflowers.
ADV-GRADED: ADV with vEarly is also an adverb.This early flowering gladiolus is not very hardy.
7) ADJ-GRADED: ADJ n Early reports or indications of something are the first reports or indications about it. [FORMAL]The early indications look encouraging...
Earlier reports that troops opened fire are now being denied.
8) PHRASE: PHR n (emphasis) You can use as early as to emphasize that a particular time or period is surprisingly early.Inflation could fall back into single figures as early as this month.
...as early as 1838.
9) PHRASE: V inflects If you say about something that might be true that it is early days, you mean that it is too soon for you to be completely sure about it. [INFORMAL]The chances of Francis eventually becoming manager of England are perhaps higher. It is early days, of course, and he has yet to win anything.
English dictionary. 2008.
