EARLY

[adjective], [adverb] - near the beginning of (a period of time), or before the usual, expected or planned timeIf you finish early (= before the end of the allowed time) you can go home.I like arriving/being a little early for interviews.The team captain scored two wonderful goals early (on) in the game.I hate having to get up too early (in the morning).You should drive very early in the morning, to avoid the traffic.We left in the early hours (= early in the day) of the 29th of June, before dawn.I'm going to have/get an early night (= go to sleep before my usual time).She was a poet living in the early fifteenth century.(formal) Ms Perkin learned to read at the early age of three.It's rather early to be sowing carrot seeds, isn't it?Your daughter seems to have recovered but it's a bit too early to be absolutely sure.Mercedes were pioneers during the early days/years (= the beginning time) of car manufacture.(formal) I think an early decision (= a decision made without delay) would be wise.These are some of my early (= first) attempts at sculpture.Clarke took the lead as early as (= at the surprisingly soon time of) the fourth minute.Compare late (NEAR THE END); late (AFTER).Early flowers and vegetables are ones that are ready before ordinary ones.(UK) Although we've lost the first match, it's early days (= a lot might still happen or change) and I think we can still win the competition.Sometimes I feel my children are going to drive/send me to an early grave (= cause me a lot of worry and annoyance).(US) Early Childhood Education ( ECE) is the study of the education of children from two to seven years of age.She has a Masters in Early Childhood Education.Esp. in Britain in the past, early-closing day was the one day in the middle of the week when most shops closed very early in the afternoon.Early music is Western music of the Middle Ages or the Renaissance, written before about 1600.an expert on early musican early-music consort/orchestraAn early warning system is a military system of radar stations intended to give a warning as soon as enemy aircraft or bombs approach.(saying) 'Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise' means that you will be well, successful and intelligent if you get enough sleep and start work early in the day.(humorous) An early bird is a person who gets up or arrives early.(saying) 'The early bird gets/catches the worm' means the person who gets up early or arrives first is the one who is successful.