early on
adverb
: at or during an early point or stage
the reasons were obvious early on in the experiment
Using Early on: Usage Guide
This adverb is sometimes objected to in American writing as an obtrusive Briticism. It is a relative newcomer to the language, having arisen in British English around 1928. It seems to have filled a need, however. It came into frequent use in American English in the late 1960s and is now well established on both sides of the Atlantic in both speech and writing.
Examples of early on in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Licht never has been a big fan of free agency, and his misses early on likely buttressed that belief.
—
Rick Stroud, Orlando Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2025
Sylmar is looking strong early on in the City Section with wins over Chatsworth and Taft.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2025
The issues started early on, with reports that some users couldn’t access their accounts when the show began.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 3 Mar. 2025
Long range shots weren’t falling for the Hawks early on, but as the contest progressed, the shots from behind the arc began falling.
—Lou Ponsi, Orange County Register, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for early on
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Rick Stroud, Orlando Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2025
Sylmar is looking strong early on in the City Section with wins over Chatsworth and Taft.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2025
The issues started early on, with reports that some users couldn’t access their accounts when the show began.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 3 Mar. 2025
Long range shots weren’t falling for the Hawks early on, but as the contest progressed, the shots from behind the arc began falling.
—Lou Ponsi, Orange County Register, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for early on
Cite this Entry
“Early on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/early%20on. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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