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5.45
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early adjective [ ˈəːli ]

• happening or done before the usual or expected time.
• "we ate an early lunch"
Similar: untimely, premature, too soon, too early, before time, unseasonable, prompt, timely, quick, speedy, rapid, fast, without delay, expeditious, rathe,
Opposite: overdue,
• belonging or happening near the beginning of a particular period.
• "an early goal secured victory"
Similar: advance, forward, prior, initial, preliminary, first, primary, pilot, test, trial,
Opposite: late,

early adverb

• before the usual or expected time.
• "I was planning to finish work early today"
Similar: before the usual time, before the appointed time, prematurely, too soon, ahead of time, ahead of schedule, in good time, betimes,
• near the beginning of a particular time or period.
• "we lost a couple of games early in the season"

early noun

• potatoes which are ready to be harvested before the main crop.
• early shifts.
• "she is on earlies"
Origin: Old English (as an adverb) ǣrlīce (see ere, -ly2), influenced by Old Norse árliga . The adjective use dates from Middle English.

early on

• at an initial stage in a period.
• "they discovered early on that the published data were wrong"

at the earliest

• not before the time or date specified.
"the table won't be delivered until next week at the earliest"

early bird

• a person who rises, arrives, or acts before the usual or expected time.
"he was always an early bird"

the early bird catches the worm

• the person who takes the earliest opportunity to do something will gain the advantage over others.

early doors

• early on, especially in a game or contest.
"you should try to wind up their star player early doors"

an early grave

• a premature or untimely death.
"he worked himself into an early grave"

the early hours

• the time after midnight and before dawn.
"the bar stays open until the early hours"

an early night

• an occasion when someone goes to bed before the usual time.
"I think I'll have an early night"

early on

• at an initial stage in a period.
"they discovered early on that the published data were wrong"

earlier on

• at a previous stage in a period.
"hints were dropped about it earlier on"

it's early days

• it is too soon to be sure how a situation will develop.
"it's early days yet, but the centre has already doubled its workforce"

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