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⇱ earliest - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

earliest

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UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈɜːrliɪst/

From early (adj):
earlier
adj comparative
earliest
adj superlative
From early (adv):
earlier
adv comparative
earliest
adv superlative

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
ear•ly /ˈɜrli/USA pronunciation   adv. andadj., -li•er, -li•est. 
adv. 
  1. in or during the beginning: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:The train arrived early!

adj. 
  1. occurring in the beginning:[before a noun]an early hour of the day.
  2. occurring before the usual or appointed time:an early dinner.
  3. occurring in the near future:[before a noun]I look forward to an early reply.
Idioms
  1. Idioms early on, not long after the beginning.

ear•li•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
ear•ly  (ûr′lē),USA pronunciation adv., -li•er, -li•est, adj., -li•er, -li•est, n., pl. -lies. 
adv. 
  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.
  5. Idioms early on, with but little time elapsed;
    early in the course of a process, project, etc.;
    early in the game.

adj. 
  1. 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.
  2. occurring before the usual or appointed time:an early dinner.
  3. belonging to a period far back in time:early French architecture.
  4. occurring in the near future:I look forward to an early reply.
  5. (of a fruit or vegetable) appearing or maturing before most others of its type:early apples.

n. 
  1. a fruit or vegetable that appears before most others of its type.
  • Middle English erlich (adjective, adjectival), erliche (adverb, adverbial), Old English ǣrlīc, ǣrlīce, mutated variant of ārlīc, ārlīce, equivalent. to ār- early (positive of ǣr ere) + līc(e) -ly bef. 950
ear′li•ness, n. 
    6. initial. 7. beforehand, premature.
Ear•ly  (ûr′lē),USA pronunciation n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
early /ˈɜːlɪ/ adj ( -lier, -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. early days ⇒ too soon to tell how things will turn out
  6. early doors ⇒ Brit informal esp at an early stage
adv (-lier, -liest)
  1. before the expected or usual time
Etymology: Old English ǣrlīce, from ǣr ere + -līce -ly2; related to Old Norse arligaˈearliness n
'earliest' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

🗣️Forum discussions with the word(s) "earliest" in the title:

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(11:30 a.m. CET, 9:30 a.m. GMT,) at the earliest
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At the/your earliest
at your earliest convenience synonyms
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he earliest, truest tendency of Christianity
He has asked me to find out when the earliest plane will take off next Wednesday.
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