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earliest

earliest

1.0
As soon as you can
  • adverb
  • /ˈɪrliest/
translation icon : lo antes posible
  • She arrived at the earliest possible time.

So you know, I'm doing doing it you with me and whoever gets up the earliest wins.

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Examples

  • The earliest I can meet you is at 9 a.m. tomorrow.

  • Please reply at your earliest convenience to confirm your availability.

  • If you order now, the earliest delivery date is next Monday.

  • The train leaves at the earliest hour.

  • She arrived at the station the earliest of all her friends.

  • I always try to submit my assignments earliest to avoid any last-minute rush.

  • He made sure to wake up earliest so he could enjoy some quiet time before the day started.

Synonyms

right away
vsearliest
960 1.0

Without any delay

allows the first feasible time rather than instant action
as soon as possible
vsearliest
244 1.8

As quickly as you can without delay

insists on the very first possible moment without any delay
soonest
vsearliest
1 1.0

As early as possible

has identical meaning but is a different word form

Antonyms

latest
  • Literature
1.2

Most recent news or information

How Early

earliest
1.0
earlier
4 1.0
early
1.0
on time
321 1.0
later
1.0

Surface Forms

earliest positive

Morphology

earliest = early (transparent) = early + est

Standard superlative formation from 'early' using the productive suffix '-est'; meaning 'most early' or 'at the soonest time' is directly predictable.

Etymology

Earliest comes from the word early plus the ending -est, which means 'most', so as an adverb it literally means 'at the most early time'. This is why earliest is used to say 'at the soonest possible time' or 'with the least delay'.