earliest
Pronunciation:
/ˈɜː.li.ɪst//ˈɝ.li.ɪst/adjective
Definitions
At a time in advance of the usual or expected event.
Example: at eleven, we went for an early lunch; she began reading at an early age; his mother suffered an early death
Arriving a time before expected; sooner than on time.
Example: The early guests sipped their punch and avoided each other's eyes.
Near the start or beginning.
Example: Early results showed their winning 245 out of 300 seats in parliament. The main opponent locked up only 31 seats.
Having begun to occur; in its early stages.
Example: early cancer
adverb
Definitions
At a time before expected; sooner than usual.
Example: We finished the project an hour sooner than scheduled, so we left early.
Soon; in good time; seasonably.