Early (Adjective)

Meaning ¹

Expected in the near future; "look for an early end to the negotiations".

Classification

All adjective clusters.

Examples

• The company is expecting an early release of the new software next quarter.
• We're hoping for an early resolution to the conflict so we can move forward with the project.
• The weather forecast predicts an early spring this year with warmer temperatures arriving sooner than usual.
• The new employee is making great progress, so we expect an early completion of the training program.
• The doctor is optimistic about the patient's recovery and thinks there will be an early discharge from the hospital.

Meaning ²

Being or occurring at an early stage of development; "in an early stage"; "early forms of life"; "early man"; "an early computer".

Classification

All adjective clusters.

Examples

• The early forms of the company were marked by financial struggles and operational challenges.
• In its early stages, the disease is often asymptomatic and difficult to diagnose.
• The early versions of the software had several bugs that were later corrected in updates.
• Early man developed tools to help with hunting and gathering, marking a significant milestone in human evolution.
• The early models of the car were plagued by reliability issues and poor safety features.

Antonyms

• Late

Related Words

• Earliness (noun)

Meaning ³

Very young; "at an early age".

Classification

All adjective clusters.

Examples

• The child showed exceptional talent at an early age and was accepted into a prestigious music academy.
• She began taking dance classes at the early age of three and went on to become a professional ballet dancer.
• The young artist was discovered at an early age and was commissioned to create paintings for exhibitions all over the world.
• He was an early starter, earning his first paycheck at the age of ten by walking the neighborhood dogs.
• At an early age, Emily knew she wanted to pursue a career in medicine, inspired by her parents who were both doctors.

Meaning ⁴

At or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time; "early morning"; "an early warning"; "early diagnosis"; "an early death"; "took early retirement"; "an early spring"; "early varieties of peas and tomatoes mature before most standard varieties".

Classification

All adjective clusters.

Examples

• She got up in the early morning to exercise before work.
• The doctor gave her an early diagnosis and was able to treat the disease effectively.
• The family made sure to take an early flight to beat the holiday rush.
• He decided to take early retirement and spend his golden years traveling.
• The company sent out an early warning to all its customers about the potential security threat.

Antonyms

• Middle
• Late

Related Words

• Earliness (noun)

Meaning ⁵

Belonging to the distant past; "the early inhabitants of Europe"; "former generations"; "in other times".

Classification

All adjective clusters.

Examples

• The early inhabitants of the island had a complex system of agriculture and trade.
• The professor's latest book explores the early history of medieval Europe.
• We can learn a lot from the experiences of our early ancestors.
• The traditions and customs of the early settlers were vastly different from those of today.
• The early forms of democracy were often chaotic and inefficient.

Synonyms

• Other
• Former

Meaning ⁶

Of an early stage in the development of a language or literature; "the Early Hebrew alphabetical script is that used mainly from the 11th to the 6th centuries B.C."; "Early Modern English is represented in documents printed from 1476 to 1700".

Classification

All adjective clusters.

Examples

• Early Gothic architecture developed in the 12th century in Europe and was marked by the use of ribbed vaults and flying buttresses.
• The early syntax of the English language is often unclear due to the limited number of surviving texts from that period.
• Early Modern Spanish literature has had a profound influence on the development of the novel as a literary form.
• Early examples of Buddhist art and iconography can be found in the ancient ruins of the Indian subcontinent.
• The early Etruscan civilization made significant contributions to the art and architecture of the Roman Empire.

Antonyms

• Middle
• Late

Related Words

• Earliness (noun)