1. adjective /ˈɜː(ɹ).li,ˈɝli/
At eleven, we went for an early lunch.
b) Arriving a time before expected; sooner than on-time.
She began reading at an early age.
2. adverb /ˈɜː(ɹ).li,ˈɝli/
We finished the project an hour sooner than scheduled, so we left early.
3. noun /ˈɜː(ɹ).li,ˈɝli/
A 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.
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