This word is acceptable for play in the US & UK dictionaries that are being used in the following games:

• Lexulous
• Wordscraper
• Wordosaur

adj. Of or occurring near the beginning of a given series, period of time, or course of events: in the early morning; scored two runs in the early innings.

adj. Of or belonging to a previous or remote period of time: the early inhabitants of the British Isles.

adj. Of or belonging to an initial stage of development: an early form of life; an early computer.

adj. Occurring, developing, or appearing before the expected or usual time: an early spring; an early retirement.

adj. Maturing or developing relatively soon: an early variety of tomato.

adj. Occurring in the near future: Observers predicted an early end to the negotiations.

ad. Near the beginning of a given series, period of time, or course of events: departed early in the day; scored important victories early in the campaign.

ad. At or near the beginning of the morning: She never used to get up so early.

ad. At or during a remote or initial period: decided very early to go into medicine.

ad. Before the expected or usual time: arrived at the meeting a few minutes early.

ad. Soon in relation to others of its kind: a rose that was cultivated to bloom early.

idiom. early on At an early stage or point: "Early on, [he] found that being honest and being funny were almost the same thing” ( Maureen Orth).

adj. At a time in advance of the usual or expected event.

adj. Arriving a time before expected; sooner than on-time.

adj. Near the start or beginning.

ad. At a time before expected; sooner than usual.

n. A shift (scheduled work period) that takes place early in the day.

ad. Soon; in good season; seasonably; betimes.

adj. In advance of the usual or appointed time; in good season; prior in time; among or near the first; -- opposed to late

adj. Coming in the first part of a period of time, or among the first of successive acts, events, etc.

Near the initial point of some reckoning in time; in or during the first part or period of some division of time, or of some course or procedure: as, come early; early in the day, or in the century; early in his career.

Synonyms Early, Soon, Betimes. Early is relative, and notes occurrence before some fixed or usual time, or before the course of time had far advanced beyond that point: as, he rose early (that is, he rose before the usual time of rising, or before the day had advanced far); he came early in the evening (that is, before the evening was far advanced); while in “come early” the meaning may be only “do not be late in your coming, or do not delay your coming beyond the set or accustomed time.” Soon means shortly, or in a short time after the present or some fixed point of time: as, come soon; he left soon after my arrival. Betimes (by time) means in good time for some specific object or all useful purposes: as, he rose betimes.

Pertaining to the first part or period of some division of time, or of some course in time; being at or near the beginning of the portion of time indicated or concerned: as, an early hour; early manhood; the early times of the church.

Appearing or occurring in advance of, or at or near the beginning of, some appointed, usual, or well-understood date, epoch, season, or event; being before the usual time: as, an early riser; early fruit; early (that is, premature) decay; early marriage.

Occurring in the near future: as, I shall take an early opportunity of calling on you; the petitioners asked that a meeting be called at an early date.

In embryology, very young; very recently formed: as, an early embryo.

ad. before the usual time or the time expected

adj. of an early stage in the development of a language or literature

ad. in good time

adj. belonging to the distant past

adj. being or occurring at an early stage of development

ad. during an early stage

adj. very young

adj. at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time

adj. expected in the near future

"Twice in the past year, Mr. Papandreou has flirted with ending his term early because of public discontent with his austerity policies."

old    past    rude    archaic    embryotic    embryonic    precocious    young    new    inchoate   

late    tardily   

early english    early english architecture   

earlier    earliest   

early doors   

soon    seasonably    betimes    seasonable    forward    not late    timely    rathe    auroral    matutinal   

Adderley    Curley    Hurley    Shirley    burley    burly    curly    erly    girlie    hurley   

History   

late    new    wonderful