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early

/ˈɝli/
adjectivenounadverb

EARLY meaning: before the expected time or near a period’s beginning; this five-letter word scores 8 Scrabble points and is a Wordle answer.

NWL Collins ENABLE Wordle answer list

Adjective 4 meanings

  1. At 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”

  2. Arriving a time before expected; sooner than on time.

    “You're early today! I don't usually see you before nine o'clock.”

  3. After but close to the start of a period of time.

    “The play "Two Gentlemen of Verona" is one of Shakespeare's early works.”

  4. In the starting hours of the day.

    “It's too early for this sort of thing. I'm not awake yet.”

Noun 1 meaning

  1. A shift (scheduled work period) that takes place early in the day.

Adverb 2 meanings

  1. At a time before expected; sooner than usual.

    “We finished the project an hour sooner than scheduled, so we left early.”

  2. Soon; in good time; seasonably.

Definitions: Wiktionary (CC BY-SA) via Kaikki/Wiktextract

Where it comes from

Etymology

From Middle English erly, erlich, earlich, from Old English ǣrlīċ (“early”, adjective), equivalent to ere + -ly.

Similar and opposite words

Similar
prematurenewfirstprematurely
Opposite
lateterminalmidmiddletardily

EARLY describes something that happens before the expected time, or close to the beginning of a period. It can also name a work shift scheduled for the first part of the day. The familiar word has a less obvious game profile: its Y contributes half of its 8 Scrabble points, and the same letters form four anagrams.

EARLY at a glance

  • EARLY is a five-letter word worth 8 Scrabble points.
  • The Y is worth 4 points; E, A, R, and L are worth 1 each.
  • EARLY is both a Wordle answer and an allowed guess.
  • Its four anagrams include the familiar words LAYER and RELAY.

What does EARLY mean?

EARLY means happening before the usual or expected time: an early arrival beats the schedule, while an early start begins ahead of the normal hour. It also describes something near the start of a stretch of time, as in early spring.

The word has a less common noun use for a shift scheduled early in the day. That work-shift sense sits alongside the everyday timing meanings, so the sentence around EARLY tells you which use is intended.

EARLY meaning in word games

For Scrabble, EARLY scores 8 before board bonuses. Four letters are worth 1 point apiece, while Y supplies 4, so placing Y on a letter bonus is more valuable than boosting any of the other tiles. The total stays modest without premium squares.

EARLY is also an answer and an allowed guess in Wordle. Its five distinct letters test E, A, R, L, and Y at once, but the word’s familiar spelling does not make it a guaranteed opener: a guess should fit the clues you already have.

Rearranging all five tiles gives LAYER, RELAY, LEARY, and RAYLE. The first pair is familiar; the latter pair is less everyday. Three one-letter neighbors are EARLS, MARLY, and PARLY.

Rhymes with early

All rhymes

One letter away

Change one letter, keep the rest
  • EARLS5
  • MARLY10
  • PARLY10

Questions people ask

Is EARLY a valid Scrabble word?
Yes, EARLY is a five-letter playable word in the word-game lists represented here. It scores 8 points before board bonuses: E, A, R, and L are worth 1 each, and Y is worth 4. Check your game's word list if you need to confirm a particular edition.
How many points is EARLY worth in Scrabble?
EARLY is worth 8 points before premium squares. The four one-point tiles contribute 4 points, and the Y adds another 4. A letter bonus on Y changes the total more than the same bonus on E, A, R, or L.
What words can you make from EARLY?
Four anagrams use the same five letters: LAYER, RELAY, LEARY, and RAYLE. LAYER and RELAY are familiar choices, while LEARY and RAYLE are less common. Their acceptance depends on the word list used in your game.

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