early bird

noun

1

: an early riser

2

: one that arrives early and especially before possible competitors

Examples of early bird in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Some airports where the wait times have been manageable say those early birds are only adding to the misery — and in some cases causing other passengers to get to their gate too late. —John Seewer, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2026

In Ohio, John Glenn International Airport in Columbus says early birds — reacting to the funding standoff on Capitol Hill that’s creating crowded security checkpoints — are making things worse by creating bottlenecks during peak times. —ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026

The early bird perk was that the first 150 kids to check in received bunny ears and a bubble wand. —Karie Angell Luc, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026

And the guidance that can make the most difference in the quality of their sleep will likely differ from what would help an early bird. —Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 12 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

from the proverb, "the early bird catches the worm"

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for early bird

• afterword
• firebird
• hummingbird
• ladybird
• mockingbird
• overheard
• thunderbird
• undergird
• undeterred
• absurd
• averred
• bluebird