A1adjective 1K

Early

🇬🇧 UK /["/ˈɜːli/"]/ 🇺🇸 US /["/ˈɜːrli/"]/

Meaning of Early

near the beginning of a period of time, an event etc.

In simple words: before the usual time

Early in a sentence

• I like to wake up early in the morning.
• The early bird gets the worm.
• She arrived early to the meeting to prepare.
• It's too early to go to bed.
• The flowers bloom early in the spring.

How to use Early

Use 'early' to describe time, such as arriving before expected. It's appropriate in both casual and formal contexts, but avoid using it in very strict timings.

Grammar pattern

early + adverb or adjective

Memory hint

Think of 'early bird' — birds wake up early in the morning.

Related words

Collocations with Early

• be
• feel
• seem
• extremely
• fairly
• very
• for
• in
• be
• feel
• seem
• extremely
• fairly
• very
• for
• in

Synonyms for Early

• premature
• prompt
• ahead of time
• preceding
• advancing

Opposites of Early

• late
• tardy

Common mistakes with Early

• Confusing 'early' with 'earlier' which is comparative.
• Using 'early' in the wrong context, like describing something that is not time-related.

Frequently asked questions about Early

What does Early mean?

before the usual time

What is the definition of Early?

near the beginning of a period of time, an event etc.

How do you use Early in a sentence?

I like to wake up early in the morning.

Can you give another example of Early?

The early bird gets the worm.

What are synonyms for Early?

Common alternatives include premature, prompt, ahead of time, preceding, advancing.

What is the opposite of Early?

Opposite meanings include late, tardy.

What words go with Early?

It commonly pairs with be, feel, seem, extremely, fairly, very, for, in, be, feel, seem, extremely, fairly, very, for, in.

What are common mistakes when using Early?

Confusing 'early' with 'earlier' which is comparative. Using 'early' in the wrong context, like describing something that is not time-related.

How do you pronounce Early?

US: /["/ˈɜːrli/"]/, UK: /["/ˈɜːli/"]/. Listen to the audio above to hear native pronunciation.

When should I use Early?

Use 'early' to describe time, such as arriving before expected. It's appropriate in both casual and formal contexts, but avoid using it in very strict timings.

What CEFR level is Early?

"Early" is at A1 level on the CEFR scale.