superlative adjective
The first or soonest among the times or options being considered.
The earliest flight leaves at six in the morning.
She chose the earliest appointment available.
American English
How to pronounce earliest
adjective · adverbA2Very common word
ERleeuhst
/ˈɚ.li.əst̚/
3 syllables · Stress the first syllable.
Form of early
Earliest often appears in at the earliest, meaning no sooner than the stated time.
The first or soonest among the times or options being considered.
Practice out loudMeanings & examples
superlative adjective
The closest to the beginning among the stages, periods, or developments being considered.
That was the earliest stage of the investigation.
Her earliest memories are of her grandparents' house.
superlative adverb
At the first possible time or before all the others being compared.
Of all the runners, Maya finished earliest.
At the earliest, the repairs will be finished on Friday.
superlative adverb
At the point closest to the beginning of a period, event, or process.
Traffic is lightest earliest in the morning.
The park is quietest earliest in the day.
Useful expressions
At an early stage or near the beginning.
We found the problem early on.
A person who gets up early or likes to do things early.
I'm an early bird, so I start work at six.
Related words & forms
The y changes to i before -er and -est: earlier, earliest.