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Definitions

early on

ADJECTIVE
premature
Synonyms
STRONGEST
immature incomplete untimely
WEAK
a bit previous abortive embryonic forward green inopportune overearly oversoon precipitate predeveloped previous raw soon unanticipated undeveloped unfledged unripe
Antonyms
WEAK
backward careful cautious delayed late mature overdue prepared slow
ADJECTIVE
untimely
Synonyms
STRONGEST
ill-timed improper premature undue unfortunate
WEAK
a bit previous abortive anachronistic awkward badly timed bright and early disagreeable early early bird inauspicious inconvenient inexpedient inopportune intrusive malapropos mistimed out-of-date overearly oversoon previous soon too early too late unfavorable unfit unlucky unpropitious unseasonable unseemly unsuitable unsuited wrong
Antonyms
STRONGEST
appropriate good suitable
WEAK
opportune timely

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.

These tests may allow doctors to determine early on whether the treatment has been successful.

From Science Daily • May 6, 2026

The one-hour event Wednesday, hosted by NBC4 and Telemundo 52, focused early on on the city’s handling of the disaster, which destroyed thousands of homes and left 12 people dead.

From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026

When I’m analyzing a problem early on, I want to be testing every scenario, poking around for where I could be wrong.

From MarketWatch • May 6, 2026

Spirit's customer service is no longer available, the airline said early on Saturday, but customers with questions can contact the carrier's claims agent.

From BBC • May 2, 2026

This impression was dispelled early on when a probationer in Briony’s year, a large, kindly, slow-moving girl with a cow’s harmless gaze, met the lacerating force of the ward sister’s fury.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan