early(a)

at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time

"early morning"; " an early warning"; " early diagnosis"; " an early death"; " took early retirement"; " an early spring"; " early varieties of peas and tomatoes mature before most standard varieties"

being or occurring at an early stage of development

"in an early stage"; " early forms of life"; " early man"; " an early computer"

belonging to the distant past

"the early inhabitants of Europe"

同义词：former(a)other(a)

very young

"at an early age"

of an early stage in the development of a language or literature expected in the near future

"look for an early end to the negotiations"

adv.
during an early stage

"early on in her career"

同义词：early on

before the usual time or the time expected

"she graduated early"

同义词：ahead of timetoo soon

in good time

同义词：betimes