early on

adverb

: at or during an early point or stage

the reasons were obvious early on in the experiment

Using Early on: Usage Guide

This adverb is sometimes objected to in American writing as an obtrusive Briticism. It is a relative newcomer to the language, having arisen in British English around 1928. It seems to have filled a need, however. It came into frequent use in American English in the late 1960s and is now well established on both sides of the Atlantic in both speech and writing.

Examples of early on in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The first class, taken early on in the undergraduate curriculum, and second, taken around the two year mark, help students prepare for and obtain internships. —Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025

Though Shinn is credited with making the last big discovery, the largest piece of gold unearthed at the property was a 28-pound nugget found early on by an enslaved boy, historians said. —Simone Jasper, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2025

The plant was intended to help meet the area’s surging electricity demand, but, from early on, it was plagued by problems. —Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025

Recognizing these changes early on can be difficult. —Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1759, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for early on

• aileron
• antiphon
• autobahn
• carillon
• castellan
• celadon
• cephalon
• chitosan
• cynodon
• denouement
• deuteron
• echelon

Kids Definition

early on

adverb

: at or during an early point or stage

had decided early on not to accept