early on

adverb

: at or during an early point or stage
The reasons were obvious early on in the experiment.

Examples of early on in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The private jet carrying Balogun from Nice was initially scheduled to leave early on Tuesday morning, but was pushed back and landed at lunchtime instead. — Tom Burrows, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026 Ansari was advised early on by other medical providers to keep Hussain's diagnosis private. — Betsy Joles, NPR, 2 Sep. 2026 Nolte and Ben Mendelsohn, who makes a vivid impression as a farmer who encounters Caleb, were locked in early on, but otherwise, things went down to the wire. — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026 With nearly 75% of the vote early on, Markey led Moulton by nearly a 3-to-1 margin, according to the AP. — Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for early on

Word History

First Known Use

1759, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of early on was in 1759

Rhymes for early on

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Browse Nearby Words

early meadow rue
early on
early saxifrage
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Cite this Entry

“Early on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/early%20on. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

early on

adverb
: at or during an early point or stage
had decided early on not to accept
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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