Earliest: meaning, definitions and examples
⏰
earliest
[ ˈɜːrliɪst ]
time
Happening or belonging to the beginning of a particular time or period.
Synonyms
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
Word | Description / Examples |
---|---|
earliest |
Used to reference the very beginning of a timeline or the first occurrence of something.
|
initial |
Often used to describe something happening at the very start but not necessarily the very first in a sequence.
|
first |
Commonly used to denote the very beginning in a sequence or to mark priority.
|
original |
Typically refers to something that existed first and has not been altered.
|
Examples of usage
- the earliest inhabitants of the region
- the earliest written records date from the third century BC
time
At or for the beginning of a particular time or period.
Examples of usage
- the train that arrives earliest at the station
- he got up earliest in the morning
time
The earliest stage in the development of something.
Examples of usage
- the earliest of his books
- the earliest appearance of the disease
Translations
Translations of the word "earliest" in other languages:
🇵🇹 mais cedo
🇮🇳 सबसे पहले
🇩🇪 früheste
🇮🇩 paling awal
🇺🇦 найраніший
🇵🇱 najwcześniejszy
🇯🇵 最も早い
🇫🇷 le plus tôt
🇪🇸 más temprano
🇹🇷 en erken
🇰🇷 가장 이른
🇸🇦 الأبكر
🇨🇿 nejdřívější
🇸🇰 najskorší
🇨🇳 最早的
🇸🇮 najzgodnejši
🇮🇸 fyrstur
🇰🇿 ең ерте
🇬🇪 ყველაზე ადრე
🇦🇿 ən erkən
🇲🇽 más temprano
Etymology
The word 'earliest' is derived from the Middle English word 'erliest', which is a combination of 'er' (early) and 'liest' (superlative suffix). The concept of 'earliest' has been used throughout history to denote the beginning or initial stage of something, whether it be time, development, or existence.