1
as in ancient
relating to or occurring near the beginning of a process, series, or time period
early birds of the Jurassic period
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unexpected
occurring before the usual or expected time
we had an early dinner so as not to miss the concert
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in immediately
before the usual or expected time
that year spring arrived early
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of early
Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 11 Feb. 2025
In early European trading, France's CAC 40 increased 0.2 percent, Germany's DAX gained 0.3 percent, and Britain's FTSE 100 remained flat.
—Justin Gest, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025
Mathew Rodriguez, Them, 11 Feb. 2025
However, the foreign ministers from the Arab countries Rubio will visit already sent a letter to him earlier this month detailing their willingness to work with the Trump administration on a two-state solution, which the secretary has all but dismissed.
—Shannon K. Kingston, ABC News, 11 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for early 
Adjective
One person suffered serious injuries during a rollover crash on Interstate 84 in Southington early Tuesday that left the highway shut down for hours.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 11 Feb. 2025
In early European trading, France's CAC 40 increased 0.2 percent, Germany's DAX gained 0.3 percent, and Britain's FTSE 100 remained flat.
—Justin Gest, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025
Adverb
The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD Law) filed a temporary restraining order against Trump’s executive order earlier this month, according to Reuters.
—Mathew Rodriguez, Them, 11 Feb. 2025
However, the foreign ministers from the Arab countries Rubio will visit already sent a letter to him earlier this month detailing their willingness to work with the Trump administration on a two-state solution, which the secretary has all but dismissed.
—Shannon K. Kingston, ABC News, 11 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for early
Recent Examples of Synonyms for early
Adjective
-
California landslide appears to leave 3 multimillion-dollar homes teetering on edge of cliff Some of the peninsula is part of an ancient complex of landslides that has been moving for at least the past six decades, according to NASA.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
5 Feb. 2025
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Archaeologists recently found an ancient Roman helmet in an unusual location, a Danish village.—
Andrea Margolis,
Fox News,
5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Allow vines to climb to unexpected areas and create dense plantings that make a yard look established.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Feb. 2025
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Fictional superhero Helen Parr, better known as Elastigirl from The Incredibles (2004), has become an unexpected body inspiration on social media.—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
8 Feb. 2025
Adverb
-
Almost immediately, Trump’s campaign began selling merchandise featuring the mugshot — on everything from coffee mugs to T-shirts — as part of a fundraising effort.—
Jamel Valencia,
Baltimore Sun,
14 Feb. 2025
-
People immediately get emotional and panicked, often yelling at other passengers and moving without necessarily knowing if that's the right thing to do.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
People.com,
14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Houde said these mammoth animals are a primitive group of proboscideans ('elephantoids') from which modern elephants evolved.—
Joseph J. Kolb,
Fox News,
18 July 2017
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Many are primitive and remote, and don’t have restrooms or water.—
OregonLive.com,
OregonLive.com,
12 July 2017
Adjective
-
If Ukraine is forced into a premature settlement without adequate safeguards, other U.S. allies—including those in NATO and the Indo-Pacific—would be reasonable to question the reliability of American commitments.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
14 Feb. 2025
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Studying how music therapy for extremely premature babies can boost their health outcomes.—
Chris Higgins,
Kansas City Star,
13 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Everyone's favorite candidate for the identity of the Loch Ness monster, the plesiosaurs were a group of prehistoric marine reptiles that lived in oceans throughout the world between 203 and 66 million years ago.—
Ben Coxworth,
New Atlas,
7 Feb. 2025
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Researchers have been able to examine the soft tissues of other prehistoric marine reptiles.—
Sarah Kuta,
Smithsonian Magazine,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The smooch was just a tactic to make Ally’s ex jealous, obviously, but such a sudden and spectacular display of passion does put them on a collision course with local authorities.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
6 Feb. 2025
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Linda Ward-Smith, president of her local AFGE union chapter in Las Vegas, said of the sudden buyout offer.—
Joey Garrison,
USA TODAY,
6 Feb. 2025
Adverb
-
Casino magnate Steve Wynn promptly trumped the president and gave $1 million to the club as did two other billionaires.—
Richard Johnson,
New York Daily News,
16 Feb. 2025
-
They were promptly disqualified, as Ben Golliver of The Washington Post reports.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
16 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near early
Cite this Entry
“Early.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/early. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.
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