early
adjective, adverb uk/ˈɜː.li/ us/ˈɝː.li/ earlier | earliest
A1 早期的，初期的;在早期，在初期;提早（的），提前（的）
near the beginning of a period of time, or before the usual, expected, or planned time
If you finish early you can go home. 如果提前完成你可以回家。
If you arrived earlier, you'd have more time. 如果早一点到，你就会有更多的时间。
I like being a little early for interviews. 每次去参加面试，我都喜欢提前一会儿到。
They scored two goals early (on) in the game. 他们在开赛不久就进了两个球。
I hate having to get up early (in the morning). 我讨厌（早晨）不得不早起。
I'm going to have an early night (= go to sleep before my usual time). 我要早睡。
She was a poet living in the early 15th century. 她是一位生活在15世纪初期的诗人。
He learned to read at the early age of three. 他早在3岁时就学会认字了。
It's a little early to be sowing carrot seeds, isn't it? 现在种胡萝卜还太早，不是吗？
Henry Ford was a pioneer during the early days/years of car manufacture. 亨利·福特是早期汽车制造业的先驱。
My earliest (= first) memory is of being shown around our new house. 我最早的记忆是被带着看我们的新家。
These are some of my early (= first) attempts at sculpture. 这些是我最初尝试雕塑创作时的一些习作。
Here's a dish I prepared earlier (= I made a short time ago). 这是我刚做好不久的一道菜。
Compare: late adjective adverb (NEAR THE END)
早开的（花卉）;早熟的(蔬菜)
Early flowers and vegetables are ones that are ready early in the year, before most other ones.
at the earliestC2 至早，最早
used after a date or time to show that something will not happen before then
I'm very busy, so I won't be with you till four o'clock at the earliest. 我太忙了，最早也得到4点才能见你。
- More examples
- Plant growth is most noticeable in spring and early summer.
- She's probably in her early forties.
- She wasn't feeling well, so she went home early.
- Diagnosis of the disease is difficult in the early stages.
- We had expected to arrive an hour late, but actually we were early.
Idioms
an early bathidiom UK （因为犯规，足球队员被要求）提前下场
used to refer to a situation in which a football player is ordered to leave the pitch during a game because they have done something wrong
After consulting with his assistant, the referee ordered an early bath for both players. 在征求了助理裁判的意见以后，裁判命令两名球员都下场。
early to bed and early to rise (makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise)idiom saying 早睡早起，健康如意。
said to emphasize that someone who gets enough sleep and starts work early in the day will have a successful life
the early bird catches the wormidiom saying 捷足先登;早起的鸟儿有虫吃
said to advise someone that they will have an advantage if they do something immediately or before anyone else does it
it's early daysidiom UK 言之过早;为时尚早;来日方长
said when you think it is too soon to make a judgment about the likely result of something because a lot might still happen or change
Our progress has been fairly slow so far, but it's early days. 到目前为止我们的进度很缓慢，但来日方长。
drive/send someone to an early graveidiom 使…过早离世
to cause someone to die young
Sometimes I think these children are going to drive me to an early grave! 有时候我真觉得，不等我老死这帮孩子就把我给磨死了！