"If you're tired, why don't you go to sleep?" "Because if I go to sleep now I will wake up too early."
Source: tatoeba (1725)
Early
/ˈɜːli/
Synonyms for "early" (208 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (42)
a prioriadvancedages agoaheadahead of timealreadyanachronisticancientancientlyantecedentantedatedantediluviananterioranticipativeanticipatoryantiquatedantiqueaway backbackbackward
Show 12 more words
beforebefore allbeforehandbeforetimebeginningbehind timebehindhandbetimesbright and earlyci-devantdatedearlier
Adjective(7 words)
Adverb(2 words)
ahead of timebetimes
Noun(1 words)
ancient writing tablet
Strong matches (62)
Adjective(16 words)
Noun(4 words)
Adjective(1 words)
early doors
Adverb(1 words)
early on
elderereere thenerenowerstwhileex post factofirstforeforedatedforegoingforehandforehandedforesightedforesightedlyformerformerlyheretoforehithertoimmemorialin advance
Show 19 more words
in ancient timesin anticipationin good timein olden timesin times pastinappropriateinfancyinitialinitiallyinopportuneinto the pastlatelong agolong sincemetachronisticmisdatedmistimedof oldof yore
Determiner(1 words)
first treatment
Related words (104)
oldoldenolderonceonetimeor everoriginaloriginallyout of dateout of seasonoverdueoversoonparachronisticpastpast duepioneerpostdatedprecedingprecipitantprecocious
Show 41 more words
precociouslyprecurrentpreexistentprehistoricprematureprematurelyprevenientpreviouspreviouslyprimalprimeprimevalprimitiveprimordialpriorpriorlypristineprochronisticquondamrecentremoteretroactiveretrospectiveseasonablyseniorsome time agosome time backsometimesoontardythentheretoforetimetimelyunanticipatedunexpectedunpunctualunseasonableuntimelyyears agoyet
Adjective(30 words)
otherprecambrian eraprehistoric animalspreliminarypreliminary data resultpreliminary diagnosispreliminary editpreliminary imaging diagnosispreliminary studyprematureprematurelypreparatory materialprimary causeprimary criterionprimary language for learningprimary languagesprimitive civilizationprimitive civilization originsprimitive cultureprimitive methods
Noun(11 words)
pilot project resultsprelimpreliminary design stagepreliminary tagpreproductionprimaryprimary classification criterionqualifyingqualifying term definitionrising of civilizationstarting
Adverb(1 words)
Adverb(1 words)
too soon
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: a priori, advanced, ages ago, ahead, ahead of schedule.
- Sentence evidence is available for early, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, opengloss, wordnet, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "early".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "early"
Keep "early" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "early" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "early", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "early" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
4 entrieslife stagetemporal adverbtime descriptortimeliness descriptor
More specific
12 entriesCollocations
10 entriesearly adopterearly childhoodearly educationearly in the dayearly in the morningearly morningearly onearly onsetearly stagesearly warning
Inflections
2 entriesDerivations
1 entriesAntonyms
3 entriessimilar
38 entriesShowing 16 of 38 words.
Translations
3 translations across 1 languages.
Spanish
3 entries- a principios de adj (relating to age)
- corto (-añero) adj (relating to age)
- cortos adj (relating to age)
Sample sentences
28 total sentences available.
Most people have a great disinclination to get out of bed early, even if they have to.
Source: tatoeba (1921)
The early bird catches the worm.
Source: tatoeba (2348)
You should start as early as you can.
Source: tatoeba (15998)
Showing 4 of 28 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "early"?
Closest matches include a priori, advanced, ages ago, ahead, ahead of schedule.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "early"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.