earliest
- 01 A2 Elementary
adj.happening at the very beginning of a period or before anything else.
adj.denoting the first part of a period of time or the first in a chronological sequence.
Simple“The earliest trains leave the station at four in the morning.”
In context“Archaeologists discovered that the earliest settlements in this valley date back to the Bronze Age, long before the arrival of Roman explorers.”
UsageOften used with 'the' as it identifies a unique point in a sequence.
- 02 B1 Intermediate
adv.at the first possible moment or as soon as you can.
adv.at the most premature or initial point possible within a timeframe.
Simple“Please call me back at your earliest convenience.”
In context“The shipment is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday at the earliest, assuming there are no further delays at the border.”
UsageCommonly found in the formal phrase 'at your earliest convenience'.
SynonymssoonestAntonyms
Usage earliest known · earliest stages · earliest phases