The AI-powered English dictionary
comparative earlier, superlative earliest
At a time in advance of the usual or expected event. quotations examples
Floods in northern India, mostly in the small state of Uttarakhand, have wrought disaster on an enormous scale. The early, intense onset of the monsoon on June 14th swelled rivers, washing away roads, bridges, hotels and even whole villages. Rock-filled torrents smashed vehicles and homes, burying victims under rubble and sludge.
2013 June 29, “High and wet”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8842, page 28
Arriving a time before expected; sooner than on time. examples
Near the start or beginning. quotations examples
'Twas early June, the new grass was flourishing everywheres, the posies in the yard—peonies and such—in full bloom, the sun was shining, and the water of the bay was blue, with light green streaks where the shoal showed.
1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 1, in Mr. Pratt's Patients
Dotcom mania was slow in coming to higher education, but now it has the venerable industry firmly in its grip. Since the launch early last year of Udacity and Coursera, two Silicon Valley start-ups offering free education through MOOCs, massive open online courses, the ivory towers of academia have been shaken to their foundations.
2013 July 20, “The attack of the MOOCs”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8845
Near the start of the day. examples
Having begun to occur; in its early stages. examples
(astronomy) Of a star or class of stars, hotter than the sun. examples
plural earlies
(informal) A shift (scheduled work period) that takes place early in the day. quotations examples
On my first day on the watch after leaving the shoplifting squad I paraded on earlies but had completely forgotten to take my ear ring off.
2007, Paul W. Browning, The Good Guys Wear Blue, page 193
At a time before expected; sooner than usual. quotations examples
No matter how early I came down, I would find him on the veranda, smoking cigarettes, or otherwise his man would be there with a message to say that his master would shortly join me if I would kindly wait.
1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter IV, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., page 46
Soon; in good time; seasonably. quotations examples
[T]thoſe that ſeeke me early, ſhall find me.
1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], Proverbs 8:17, column 1
You must wake and call me early, call me early, mother dear; / Tomorrow 'ill be the happiest time of all the blythe Newyear; […]
1832 December (indicated as 1833), Alfred Tennyson, “The May Queen”, in Poems, London: Edward Moxon, […], stanza I, page 90