early

  • (noun): A shift (scheduled work period) that takes place early in the day.
  • (adjective): At a time in advance of the usual or expected event.
  • (adjective): Arriving a time before expected; sooner than on time.
  • (adjective): Near the start or beginning.
  • (adjective): Having begun to occur; in its early stages.
  • (adjective): Of a star or class of stars, hotter than the sun.
  • (adverb): At a time before expected; sooner than usual.
  • (adverb): Soon; in good time; seasonably.
  • at eleven, we went for an early lunch;  she began reading at an early age;  his mother suffered an early death
  • The early guests sipped their punch and avoided each other's eyes.
  • Early results showed their winning 245 out of 300 seats in parliament. The main opponent locked up only 31 seats.
  • early cancer
  • We finished the project an hour sooner than scheduled, so we left early.