early
♦♦♦ ear|ly /'ɜːrli/ (earlier earliest)
1 [ADV] ADV after v
Early means before the usual time that a particular event or activity happens.
I knew I had to get up early...
Why do we have to go to bed so early?
≠ late
[ADJ] ADJ n
Early is also an adjective.
I decided that I was going to take early retirement...
I planned an early night.
2 [ADJ] ADJ n
Early means near the beginning of a day, week, year, or other period of time.
...in the 1970s and the early 1980s.
...a few weeks in early summer...
She was in her early teens.
...the early hours of Saturday morning.
≠ late
[ADV] ADV with cl, ADV n/prep
Early is also an adverb.
We'll hope to see you some time early next week.
...early in the season.
3 [ADV] ADV after v
Early means before the time that was arranged or expected.
She arrived early to secure a place at the front...
The first snow came a month earlier than usual.
≠ late
[ADJ]
Early is also an adjective.
I'm always early.
4 [ADJ] ADJ n
Early means near the beginning of a period in history, or in the history of something such as the world, a society, or an activity.
...the early stages of pregnancy.
...Fassbinder's early films...
It's too early to declare his efforts a success.
5 [ADJ] ADJ n
Early means near the beginning of something such as a piece of work or a process.
...the book's early chapters.
[ADV] ADV with cl, ADV prep
Early is also an adverb.
...an incident which occurred much earlier in the game.
6 [ADJ] ADJ n
Early refers to plants which flower or crop before or at the beginning of the main season.
...these early cabbages and cauliflowers.
[ADV] ADV with v
Early is also an adverb.
...early flowering shrubs.
7 [ADJ] ADJ n
Early reports or indications of something are the first reports or indications about it. (FORMAL)
The early indications look encouraging...
8 [PHRASE] PHR n
You can use as early as to emphasize that a particular time or period is surprisingly early.
Inflation could fall back into single figures as early as this month.
9 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you say about something that might be true that it is early days, you mean that it is too soon for you to be completely sure about it. (INFORMAL)ear|ly bird (early birds)
1 [N-COUNT]
An early bird is someone who does something or goes somewhere very early, especially very early in the morning.
We've always been early birds, getting up at 5.30 or 6am...
2 [ADJ] ADJ n
An early bird deal or offer is one that is available at a reduced price, but which you must buy earlier than you would normally do.
Early bird discounts are usually available at the beginning of the season.ear|ly warn|ing
also early-warning
[ADJ] ADJ n
An early warning system warns people that something bad is likely to happen, for example that a machine is about to stop working, or that a country is being attacked.
1 [ADV] ADV after v
Early means before the usual time that a particular event or activity happens.
I knew I had to get up early...
Why do we have to go to bed so early?
≠ late
[ADJ] ADJ n
Early is also an adjective.
I decided that I was going to take early retirement...
I planned an early night.
2 [ADJ] ADJ n
Early means near the beginning of a day, week, year, or other period of time.
...in the 1970s and the early 1980s.
...a few weeks in early summer...
She was in her early teens.
...the early hours of Saturday morning.
≠ late
[ADV] ADV with cl, ADV n/prep
Early is also an adverb.
We'll hope to see you some time early next week.
...early in the season.
3 [ADV] ADV after v
Early means before the time that was arranged or expected.
She arrived early to secure a place at the front...
The first snow came a month earlier than usual.
≠ late
[ADJ]
Early is also an adjective.
I'm always early.
4 [ADJ] ADJ n
Early means near the beginning of a period in history, or in the history of something such as the world, a society, or an activity.
...the early stages of pregnancy.
...Fassbinder's early films...
It's too early to declare his efforts a success.
5 [ADJ] ADJ n
Early means near the beginning of something such as a piece of work or a process.
...the book's early chapters.
[ADV] ADV with cl, ADV prep
Early is also an adverb.
...an incident which occurred much earlier in the game.
6 [ADJ] ADJ n
Early refers to plants which flower or crop before or at the beginning of the main season.
...these early cabbages and cauliflowers.
[ADV] ADV with v
Early is also an adverb.
...early flowering shrubs.
7 [ADJ] ADJ n
Early reports or indications of something are the first reports or indications about it. (FORMAL)
The early indications look encouraging...
8 [PHRASE] PHR n
You can use as early as to emphasize that a particular time or period is surprisingly early.
Inflation could fall back into single figures as early as this month.
9 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you say about something that might be true that it is early days, you mean that it is too soon for you to be completely sure about it. (INFORMAL)ear|ly bird (early birds)
1 [N-COUNT]
An early bird is someone who does something or goes somewhere very early, especially very early in the morning.
We've always been early birds, getting up at 5.30 or 6am...
2 [ADJ] ADJ n
An early bird deal or offer is one that is available at a reduced price, but which you must buy earlier than you would normally do.
Early bird discounts are usually available at the beginning of the season.ear|ly warn|ing
also early-warning
[ADJ] ADJ n
An early warning system warns people that something bad is likely to happen, for example that a machine is about to stop working, or that a country is being attacked.