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How to pronounce early
Say it like this: /ˈɝli/. Listen to real recordings below and compare how it sounds in different accents.
What does early mean?
adjAt a time in advance of the usual or expected event.
“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.
“You're early today! I don't usually see you before nine o'clock.”
After but close to the start of a period of time.
“The play "Two Gentlemen of Verona" is one of Shakespeare's early works.”
nounA shift (scheduled work period) that takes place early in the day.
“On my first day on the watch after leaving the shoplifting squad I paraded on earlies but had completely forgotten to take my ear ring off.”
advAt a time before expected; sooner than usual.
“I had children too early (in life), so my first baby arrived early.”
Soon; in good time; seasonably.
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Pronunciations and meanings from Wiktionary via kaikki.org, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Recordings by Wikimedia Commons contributors. This page is shared under the same license.