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
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of early
Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 25 June 2025
Local Head Start sites that provide early childhood education, child care and other services are ramping up for the start of a new school year on Aug. 18 despite uncertainty over possible federal funding cuts.
—Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 June 2025
Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 5 July 2025
Paying off debt early saves hundreds of millions of dollars in interest costs each year.
—Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for early
Adjective
City Comptroller Brad Lander was in third place in the early returns, pulling about 12% in the unofficial results, tallies showed.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 25 June 2025
Local Head Start sites that provide early childhood education, child care and other services are ramping up for the start of a new school year on Aug. 18 despite uncertainty over possible federal funding cuts.
—Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 June 2025
Adverb
His latest record, Demos, was released earlier this year.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 5 July 2025
Paying off debt early saves hundreds of millions of dollars in interest costs each year.
—Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for early
Recent Examples of Synonyms for early
Adjective
-
Spanning about 30 hectares (74 ac), this ancient landscape has been under the microscope since the 1980s, thanks to pioneering archaeologist Dietrich Mania.—
Pranjal Malewar,
New Atlas,
12 July 2025
-
As an ancient threat emerges, endangering both Vikings and dragons, Hiccup’s friendship with Toothless becomes the key to forging a new future.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
12 July 2025
Adjective
-
And our sandwiches in the South are creative and sometimes unexpected.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
14 July 2025
-
Workers installing a water pipeline in Croatia made an unexpected discovery, unearthing the remains of an 18th-century wooden boat.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
13 July 2025
Adverb
-
Take, for example, the investment tax credit (ITC) that allows firms to immediately write off a share of their capital costs.—
Howard Gleckman,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
-
The school did not immediately respond to a message left Monday morning.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 July 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
-
Many are primitive and remote, and don’t have restrooms or water.—
OregonLive.com,
OregonLive.com,
12 July 2017
Adjective
-
These aren't abstract policy concerns—they are grounded in fear of lost coverage, increased hardship and in some cases, premature death.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 July 2025
-
In addition, Saddleback Medical Center has an on-site level III NICU equipped to support premature and fragile infants with a team of neonatologists, specialized NICU nurses, and respiratory therapists available 24/7.—
Advertorial,
Oc Register,
7 July 2025
Adjective
-
The Taung Child’s remains were found alongside other smaller prey remains and eggshells in what may be a prehistoric raptor’s nest.—
Joshua Rapp Learn,
Smithsonian Magazine,
14 July 2025
-
The Neumark-Nord site in central Germany is turning out to be a prehistoric goldmine, and not just for bones.—
Pranjal Malewar,
New Atlas,
12 July 2025
Adjective
-
In one particularly raw moment, a woman studying the photographs let out a sudden shriek.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
12 July 2025
-
The tragedy in Ruidoso highlights growing concerns about increasingly intense weather systems striking communities with little time to prepare for sudden surges of water.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 July 2025
Adverb
-
If someone succumbs to the heat, promptly relocate them to a cool, shaded location.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
11 July 2025
-
This strategic forum, comprising senior business, technology and risk executives, ensures that cyber initiatives advance business goals, critical risks are promptly mitigated, and the cybersecurity function flexibly adapts to changing business needs and new threats.—
Phillimon Zongo,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Early.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/early. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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