# the early bird gets the worm

idiom · CEFR B1

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/the-early-bird-gets-the-worm
Updated: 2026-06-07

## Meaning

The first people who arrive will get the best stuff

## Examples

- I wake up at five because the early bird gets the worm.
- If you want the best seats for the concert, get there early since the early bird gets the worm.
- While others slept, the ambitious entrepreneur secured the contract, proving once again that the early bird gets the worm in a competitive market.

## Origin

English proverb recorded in William Camden's Remaines (1605) and John Ray's proverb collection (1670).

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.