[ˈəːli], (Adjective)

Definitions:
- happening or done before the usual or expected time
(e.g: we ate an early lunch)

- belonging or happening near the beginning of a particular period
(e.g: an early goal secured victory)


Phrases:
- an early grave
- an early night
- at the earliest
- earlier on
- early doors
- early on
- it's early days
- the early hours

Origin:
Old English (as an adverb) ǣrlīce(see ere, -ly), influenced by Old Norse árliga. The adjective use dates from Middle English

[ˈəːli], (Adverb)

Definitions:
- before the usual or expected time
(e.g: I was planning to finish work early today)

- near the beginning of a particular time or period
(e.g: we lost a couple of games early in the season)


Phrases:
- an early grave
- an early night
- at the earliest
- earlier on
- early doors
- early on
- it's early days
- the early hours

Origin:
Old English (as an adverb) ǣrlīce(see ere, -ly), influenced by Old Norse árliga. The adjective use dates from Middle English

[ˈəːli], (Noun)

Definitions:
- potatoes which are ready to be harvested before the main crop

- early shifts
(e.g: she is on earlies)


Phrases:
- an early grave
- an early night
- at the earliest
- earlier on
- early doors
- early on
- it's early days
- the early hours

Origin:
Old English (as an adverb) ǣrlīce(see ere, -ly), influenced by Old Norse árliga. The adjective use dates from Middle English