earliest

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The Hajj involves a series of rituals harking back to Islam’s earliest days.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 23, 2026

Burger King was among the earliest chains to feast on movie tie-ins when it promoted the original “Star Wars” in 1977.

From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026

The cancer was caught at the earliest stage before it had chance to spread.

From BBC • May 21, 2026

The earliest you can claim benefits is 62, but that would permanently reduce your benefit by up to 30%.

From MarketWatch • May 21, 2026

In the country’s earliest years, the North End was home to the city’s colonial governor, Thomas Hutchinson, and to a well-known silversmith named Paul Revere, destined to become famous for a different reason.

From "1919 The Year That Changed America" by Martin W. Sandler