Early - English meaning

verb

Move forwards in a purposeful way.

Usage examples:

He advanced towards the dispatch box

noun

A forward movement.

Usage examples:

The rebels' advance on madrid was well under way

adjective

Done, sent, or supplied beforehand.

Usage examples:

Advance notice

adverb

Before the usual or expected time; early.

Usage examples:

Next morning i was up betimes

adjective

Done with speed and efficiency.

Usage examples:

An expeditious investigation

adjective

Quick

Usage examples:

The bank was expeditious in replying to my letter.

adjective

Moving or capable of moving at high speed.

Usage examples:

A fast and powerful car

adverb

Engaging in or involving activities characterized by excitement, extranvagance, and risk-taking.

Usage examples:

The fast life she led in london

verb

Abstain from all or some kinds of food or drink, especially as a religious observance.

Usage examples:

The ministry instructed people to fast

Preceding all others in time or space or degree

ordinal number

Coming before all others in time or order; earliest; 1st.

Usage examples:

His first wife

ordinal number

Foremost in position, rank, or importance.

Usage examples:

The doctor's first duty is to respect this right

adverb

In the direction that one is facing or travelling; towards the front.

Usage examples:

He started up the engine and the car moved forward

adjective

Directed or facing towards the front or the direction that one is facing or travelling.

Usage examples:

Forward flight

noun

An attacking player in football, hockey, or other sports.

Usage examples:

Hockey should follow suit with special coaches for goalkeepers, defenders, halfbacks and forwards.

adjective

Existing or occurring at the beginning.

Usage examples:

Our initial impression was favourable

noun

The first letter of a name or word, typically a person's given name or a word forming part of a phrase.

Usage examples:

They carved their initials into the tree trunk

verb

Mark or sign (a document) with one's initials in order to authorize or validate it.

Usage examples:

The man initialled the three warrants

noun

A person who operates the flying controls of an aircraft.

Usage examples:

A strike by local airline pilots

adjective

Done as an experiment or test before being introduced more widely.

Usage examples:

A pilot scheme for training workers

verb

Another term for cowcatcher.

adjective

Preceding or done in preparation for something fuller or more important.

Usage examples:

A preliminary draft

noun

A preliminary action or event.

Usage examples:

The bombardment was resumed as a preliminary to an infantry attack

adjective

Coming before a more important action or event, esp. introducing or preparing for it

Usage examples:

Preliminary talks, a preliminary investigation, the preliminary rounds of negotiation went well., h…

adjective

Occurring or done before the usual or proper time; too early.

Usage examples:

The sun can cause premature ageing

adjective

Happening or done too soon, esp. before the natural or desired time

Usage examples:

A premature death at age 50, a spokesman said it was premature to comment on the negotiations.

adjective

Happening or done too soon, especially before the natural or suitable time

Usage examples:

Premature birth/death, premature baby the money raised for the hospital will go towards heart monit…

adverb

Before the due time; ahead of time.

Usage examples:

His son died prematurely

adjective

Of chief importance; principal.

Usage examples:

The government's primary aim is to see significant reductions in unemployment

noun

(in the us) a preliminary election to appoint delegates to a party conference or to select the candidates for a principal, especially presidential, election.

Usage examples:

These two republicans should win their primaries easily

verb

Former term for palaeozoic.

adjective

Existing or coming before in time, order, or importance.

Usage examples:

He has a prior engagement this evening

noun

A previous criminal conviction.

Usage examples:

He had no juvenile record, no priors

noun

A man who is head of a house or group of houses of certain religious orders.

Usage examples:

The english reformation removed powerful abbots and priors from their seats

verb

(of an event or fact) cause or bring about (an action or feeling).

Usage examples:

The violence prompted a wave of refugees to flee the country

noun

An act of encouraging a hesitating speaker.

Usage examples:

With barely a prompt, barbara talked on

adjective

Done without delay; immediate.

Usage examples:

She would have died but for the prompt action of two ambulancemen

adjective

Moving fast or doing something in a short time.

Usage examples:

In the qualifying session he was two seconds quicker than his teammate

adverb

At a fast rate; quickly.

Usage examples:

He'll find some place where he can make money quicker

noun

The soft tender flesh below the growing part of a fingernail or toenail.

Usage examples:

You'll enjoy the movie if your idea of a good time is sitting glued to the edge of your seat chewin…

adjective

Happening in a short time or at a great rate.

Usage examples:

The country's rapid economic decline

noun

A fast-flowing and turbulent part of the course of a river.

Usage examples:

Those of you looking for adventure can shoot the rapids

adjective

Quick or sudden

Usage examples:

Rapid growth, there’s been rapid change in china., we kept up a rapid pace., males grow more rapidl…

adjective

(of a person or their actions) prompt and eager.

adjective

Done or occurring quickly.

Usage examples:

A speedy recovery

adjective

Very quick or fast

Usage examples:

They hope to bring a speedy end to the conflict., the error can be speedily corrected.

noun

A procedure intended to establish the quality, performance, or reliability of something, especially before it is taken into widespread use.

Usage examples:

Both countries carried out nuclear tests in may

verb

Short for test match.

Usage examples:

The first test against new zealand

noun

The shell or integument of some invertebrates and protozoans, especially the chalky shell of a foraminiferan or the tough outer layer of a tunicate.

Usage examples:

The tests of the shells are recrystallized, but the original ornamentation is preserved in very goo…

adjective

Done or occurring at a favourable or useful time; opportune.

Usage examples:

A timely warning

noun

A formal examination of evidence by a judge, typically before a jury, in order to decide guilt in a case of criminal or civil proceedings.

Usage examples:

The newspaper accounts of the trial

verb

Test (something, especially a new product) to assess its suitability or performance.

Usage examples:

Teachers all over the uk are trialling the materials

noun

The examination in a court of law of the facts of a case to decide whether a person is guilty of a crime or responsible for an injury to another person

Usage examples:

[ c ] a criminal/civil trial, [ u ] the case will soon go to trial (= begin)., [ u ] she must still…

adjective

(of weather) unusual for the time of year.

Usage examples:

An unseasonable warm spell

adjective

(of weather) not usual for the time of year

Usage examples:

We had an unseasonable warm spell in january.

adjective

(of an event or act) happening or done at an unsuitable time.

Usage examples:

Dave's untimely return

adverb

At a time that is unsuitable or premature.

Usage examples:

The moment was very untimely chosen

adjective

(of something bad) happening unexpectedly early or at a time which is not suitable

Usage examples:

A love of fast cars led to his untimely death at the age of 34.