Early

Relating to or occurring near the beginning of a period or event; taking place before the usual or expected time. It can also refer to a time in the past, a stage in development, or to something happening soon in the future. Furthermore, it denotes the first part of a time period like the early morning, or the first examples of a particular type of thing. It implies promptness and initiation, as well as an association with youthfulness or the beginning of something. 'Early' contrasts with 'late' and 'delayed'.

Early meaning with examples

• The early bird catches the worm. John always arrives at work early to prepare for the day, often before his colleagues. He gets a jump start on his tasks. Arriving early allows him to avoid the rush hour and to have a quiet start to his workday, focusing on his priorities.
• The early chapters of the novel established the main characters. During its early stages, the company was small and struggling. The first few verses of the song are the heart of the intro. early versions of computers were significantly slower and larger than today's machines.
• They decided to leave early to avoid the traffic. We're planning for an early start tomorrow. Please take your medication early to help ease the symptoms. She felt an early onset of the flu coming on and went home to rest.
• The early signs of spring were evident with the blooming flowers. They are in early talks of a new merger. The early adopters of the technology benefited from it. The early settlers of the region faced many hardships, shaping the area.