earlies

adverb, ear·li·er, ear·li·est.

1. in or during the first part of a period of time, a course of action, a series of events, etc.: early in the year.
2. in the early part of the morning: to get up early.
3. before the usual or appointed time; ahead of time: They came early and found their hosts still dressing.
4. far back in time: The Greeks early learned to sail and navigate.

adjective, ear·li·er, ear·li·est.

5. occurring in the first part of a period of time, a course of action, a series of events, etc.: an early hour of the day.
6. occurring before the usual or appointed time: an early dinner.
7. belonging to a period far back in time: early French architecture.
8. occurring in the near future: I look forward to an early reply.
9. (of a fruit or vegetable) appearing or maturing before most others of its type: early apples.

noun, plural ear·lies.

10. a fruit or vegetable that appears before most others of its type.

Idioms

11. early on, with but little time elapsed; early in the course of a process, project, etc.; early in the game.

adjective -lier or -liest

1. before the expected or usual time
2. occurring in or characteristic of the first part of a period or sequence
3. occurring in or characteristic of a period far back in time
4. occurring in the near future
5. at the earliest not before the time or date mentioned
6. early days too soon to tell how things will turn out

adverb -lier

7. before the expected or usual time
8. near the first part of a period or sequenceI was talking to him earlier

adv.

Old English ærlic “early,” from ær “soon, ere” (see ere) + -lice, adverbial suffix (see -ly (2)). Cf. Old Norse arliga “early.” The early bird of the proverb is from 1670s. Related: Earlier; earliest.

In addition to the idioms beginning with early

• early bird catches the worm
• early on
• early to bed, early to rise (makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise)

also see:

• bright and early