Foundation level · Year 4 · free
early
adjective · Say it: UR-lee
What it means
Foundationhappening before the usual or expected time, or near the start of something
We caught the early train so we could spend all day at the seaside.
Similar and opposite words
Synonyms (similar meaning)
- initial
- premature
- prompt
Antonyms (opposite meaning)
- late
More examples
- In the early morning, the park was quiet and covered in dew.
Where the word comes from
From Old English 'ǣrlīce', from 'ǣr', meaning before.
Try a quick question
One question about “early”, the way 11+ papers ask it (Foundation level).