adjadj.allat or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected timeAttributes:timing
Examples:- early morning
- an early warning
- early diagnosis
- an early death
- took early retirement
- an early spring
- early varieties of peas and tomatoes mature before most standard varieties
Antonyms:latemiddle
Derivationally Related Form:earliness
Inherited Hypernyms:early
Similar to:aboriginal primaeval primal primeval primordial advance beforehand archaean archean archaeozoic archeozoic azoic earlier earliest earlyish premature untimely premature previous proterozoic proto wee
See also:first
adjadj.allbeing or occurring at an early stage of developmentExamples:- in an early stage
- early forms of life
- early man
- an early computer
Antonyms:late
Derivationally Related Form:earliness
Inherited Hypernyms:early
Similar to:archaic primitive crude primitive rude embryonic embryotic inchoate incipient new young precocious
adj satadj.allbelonging to the distant pastSynset:former other
Examples:- the early inhabitants of Europe
- former generations
- in other times
Antonyms:futurepresent
Inherited Hypernyms:early
Similar to:past
adj satadj.allvery youngAntonyms:old
Inherited Hypernyms:early
Similar to:immature young
adjadj.allof an early stage in the development of a language or literatureTopic:linguistics
Examples:- the Early Hebrew alphabetical script is that used mainly from the 11th to the 6th centuries B.C.
- Early Modern English is represented in documents printed from 1476 to 1700
Antonyms:latemiddle
Derivationally Related Form:earliness
Inherited Hypernyms:early
Similar to:Old
adj satadj.allexpected in the near futureExamples:- look for an early end to the negotiations
Antonyms:pastpresent
Inherited Hypernyms:early
Similar to:future
advadv.allduring an early stageSynset:early on
Inherited Hypernyms:early on
advadv.allbefore the usual time or the time expectedSynset:ahead of time too soon
Examples:- she graduated early
- the house was completed ahead of time
Antonyms:late
Inherited Hypernyms:early
advadv.allin good timeSynset:betimes
Examples:- he awoke betimes that morning
Inherited Hypernyms:early