early
Before the usual time
Early can function as an adjective or adverb with a range of related meanings, most of which are the opposite of late.
Early is typically associated with concepts such as before, soon, and beginning, just as late is connected with after and end.
In anything that develops over time, early suggests a form or stage that is relatively primitive, immature, or undeveloped.
Day's first glow
- sunriseMorning light's arrival
- daybreakMorning's first light
- sunupMorning's first light
- cockcrowDawn, announced by fowl
alarm · waking · rising · breakfast · commute · coffee · routine · shower
To set going
- onsetStarting point of something
- outsetInitial point of something
- inceptionFounding moment
- genesisPoint of creation
commencement · infancy · initiation · birth · foundation · launch · emergence · threshold
Belief about future outcomes
- preparationArranging things in advance
- planningArranging for future events
- forethoughtPlanning before acting
- readinessState of being prepared
ahead of schedule · in advance · proactive · foresight · preventive · precautionary · timely · prompt
Before expected arrival
- aheadIn the lead
- beforehandIn advance
- hastyExcessively quick, ill-considered
- rushedDone with excessive speed
untimely · precipitate · preemptive · impatient · soon · prematurely · unexpected · unanticipated
Gifted youth with rare talent
- giftedGiven as present
- advancedFar along in development
- talentedHaving natural ability
- brightEmitting or reflecting light
exceptional · ahead · accelerated · mature · developed · whiz kid · genius · remarkable
First to forge ahead
- innovatorCreator of new methods
- forerunnerOne that comes before
- pathfinderOne who discovers routes
- founderOne who begins something
visionary · groundbreaking · first-mover · trendsetter · originator · vanguard · ahead of time · revolutionary
Very young child
formative · developmental · foundational · preschool · kindergarten · crawling · teething · first steps
dawn
Day's first glow
cockcrow · alarm · waking · rising · breakfast · commute · coffee · routine · shower · dressing
start
To set going
genesis · commencement · infancy · initiation · birth · foundation · launch · emergence · threshold · advent
expectation
Belief about future outcomes
- preparationArranging things in advance
- planningArranging for future events
- forethoughtPlanning before acting
readiness · ahead of schedule · in advance · proactive · foresight · preventive · precautionary · timely · prompt · punctual
preterm
Before expected arrival
- aheadIn the lead
- beforehandIn advance
- hastyExcessively quick, ill-considered
rushed · untimely · precipitate · preemptive · impatient · soon · prematurely · unexpected · unanticipated · anticipatory
prodigy
Gifted youth with rare talent
bright · exceptional · ahead · accelerated · mature · developed · whiz kid · genius · remarkable · promising
trailblazer
First to forge ahead
- innovatorCreator of new methods
- forerunnerOne that comes before
- pathfinderOne who discovers routes
founder · visionary · groundbreaking · first-mover · trendsetter · originator · vanguard · ahead of time · revolutionary · experimental
infant
Very young child
young · formative · developmental · foundational · preschool · kindergarten · crawling · teething · first steps · youth
ancient
Very old indeed
- primitiveIn earliest form
- prehistoricBefore documented civilization
- primordialExisting from the start
original · proto · archaic · antique · classical · ancestral · medieval · premodern · antiquity · bygone
earlylate
Not on time
tardy · overdue · belated · behind schedule · running late
- early morningFirst hours of day
- early birdOne who arrives first
- bright and earlyVery early morning
- early adopterFirst purchaser of innovations
- early onNear the beginning
- early springSeason's initial weeks
earlier, earliest, earliness, early bird, early childhood, early days, earlyish, early birds, early bloomer