early bird
A person who wakes early or arrives early, typically before most others.
If you’re a bird, be an early bird— But if you’re a worm, sleep late.
early
adj 5adv 2noun 1name 1
Collocations
6(adj.)
VERBS
be, feel, seem
ADV
extremely, really, very
a bit, fairly, a little, quite, rather, relatively
She arrived fairly early for the meeting and had to wait in the lobby for ten minutes.
surprisingly
She finished her degree at a surprisingly early age, just twenty years old.
PREP
for
We decided to leave early for the airport to avoid the traffic.
in
She realized her passion for music early in her childhood.
Definitions
adj
1
At a time in advance of the usual or expected event.
at eleven, we went for an early lunch; she began reading at an early age; his mother suffered an early death
Floods in northern India, mostly in the small state of Uttarakhand, have wrought disaster on an enormous scale. The early, intense onset of the monsoon on June 14th swelled rivers, washing away roads, bridges, hotels and even whole villages. Rock-filled torrents smashed vehicles and homes, burying victims under rubble and sludge.
2
Arriving a time before expected; sooner than on time.
You're early today! I don't usually see you before nine o'clock.
The early guests sipped their punch and avoided each other's eyes.
3
After but close to the start of a period of time.
The play "Two Gentlemen of Verona" is one of Shakespeare's early works.
Early results showed their winning 245 out of 300 seats in parliament. The main opponent locked up only 31 seats.
4
In the starting hours of the day.
It's too early for this sort of thing. I'm not awake yet.
5
Having begun to occur; in its early stages.
early cancer
noun
1
A shift (scheduled work period) that takes place early in the day.
On my first day on the watch after leaving the shoplifting squad I paraded on earlies but had completely forgotten to take my ear ring off.
adv
1
At a time before expected; sooner than usual.
We finished the project an hour sooner than scheduled, so we left early.
I had children too early (in life), so my first baby arrived early.
2
Soon; in good time; seasonably.
[T]thoſe that ſeeke me early, ſhall find me.
You must wake and call me early, call me early, mother dear; / Tomorrow 'ill be the happiest time of all the blythe Newyear; […]
Thesaurus
Idioms & Phrases
the early bird gets the worm
Whoever arrives first has the best chance of success; some opportunities are available only to the first competitors.
early bath
The condition of being shown a red card in soccer.
That was a horrible tackle: he can expect an early bath for that.
the early bird catches the worm
Alternative form of the early bird gets the worm.
early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise
A person who goes to bed early and wakes up early will lead a more successful life.
Example Bank
601
at eleven, we went for an early lunch; she began reading at an early age; his mother suffered an early death
Wiktionary02
Floods in northern India, mostly in the small state of Uttarakhand, have wrought disaster on an enormous scale. The early, intense onset of the monsoon on June 14th swelled rivers, washing away roads,
Wiktionary03
You're early today! I don't usually see you before nine o'clock.
Wiktionary04
On my first day on the watch after leaving the shoplifting squad I paraded on earlies but had completely forgotten to take my ear ring off.
Wiktionary05
We finished the project an hour sooner than scheduled, so we left early.
Wiktionary06
I had children too early (in life), so my first baby arrived early.
WiktionaryUsage Notes
i Register
In some senses, early is marked as informal. Watch for register when choosing this word.
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