early

[[t]ɜ͟ː(r)li[/t]]

♦

earlier, earliest

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:

late

ADJ-GRADED: ADJ n

Early 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:

late

ADV-GRADED: ADV with cl, ADV n/prep

Early 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:

late

ADJ-GRADED

Early 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 prep

Early 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 v

Early 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.