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Soon vs Early - What's the difference?

soon | early |

As adjectives the difference between soon and early

is that soon is occurring within a short time, or quickly while early is at a time in advance of the usual or expected event.

As adverbs the difference between soon and early

is that soon is immediately, instantly while early is at a time before expected; sooner than usual.

As a noun early is

a shift (scheduled work period) that takes place early in the day.

soon

English

(wikipedia soon)

Adjective

(er)
  • Occurring within a short time, or quickly.
  • *{{quote-book, year=1927, author= F. E. Penny
    • , chapter=4, title= Pulling the Strings , passage=Soon after the arrival of Mrs. Campbell, dinner was announced by Abboye. He came into the drawing room resplendent in his gold-and-white turban. […] His cummerbund matched the turban in gold lines.}}

    Adverb

    (er)
  • (label) Immediately, instantly.
  • Within a short time; quickly.
  • * , chapter=1
    • , title= Mr. Pratt's Patients, chapter=1 , passage=I stumbled along through the young pines and huckleberry bushes. Pretty soon I struck into a sort of path that, I cal'lated, might lead to the road I was hunting for. It twisted and turned, and, the first thing I knew, made a sudden bend around a bunch of bayberry scrub and opened out into a big clear space like a lawn.}}
  • * , chapter=5
    • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=Then everybody once more knelt, and soon the blessing was pronounced. The choir and the clergy trooped out slowly,
  • *{{quote-magazine, date=2014-04-21, volume=411, issue=8884, magazine=(The Economist)
    • , title= Subtle effects , passage=Manganism has been known about since the 19th century, when miners exposed to ores containing manganese
  • Early.
  • * Bible, (w) ii. 18
    • How is it that ye are come so soon to-day?
  • Readily; willingly; used with would , or some other word expressing will.
  • * (Joseph Addison) (1672-1719)
    • I would as soon see a river winding through woods or in meadows, as when it is tossed up in so many whimsical figures at Versailles.

    Derived terms

    * get well soon * sooner or later * soon enough * soonish * too soon

    Statistics

    * 1000 English basic words ----

    early

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • At a time in advance of the usual or expected event.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-29, volume=407, issue=8842, page=28, magazine=(The Economist)
    • , title= High and wet , passage=Floods in northern India, mostly in the small state of Uttarakhand, have wrought disaster on an enormous scale. The early , intense onset of the monsoon on June 14th swelled rivers, washing away roads, bridges, hotels and even whole villages. Rock-filled torrents smashed vehicles and homes, burying victims under rubble and sludge.}}
  • Arriving a time before expected; sooner than on time.
  • Near the start or beginning.
  • *
    • , title= Mr. Pratt's Patients, chapter=1 , passage='Twas early June, the new grass was flourishing everywheres, the posies in the yard—peonies and such—in full bloom, the sun was shining, and the water of the bay was blue, with light green streaks where the shoal showed.}}
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-07-20, volume=408, issue=8845, magazine=(The Economist)
    • , title= The attack of the MOOCs , passage=Dotcom mania was slow in coming to higher education, but now it has the venerable industry firmly in its grip. Since the launch early last year of Udacity and Coursera, two Silicon Valley start-ups offering free education through MOOCs, massive open online courses, the ivory towers of academia have been shaken to their foundations.}}
  • Having begun to occur; in its early stages.

    • Synonyms

    * (at a time in advance of the usual): premature * (near the start): first

    Antonyms

    * (at a time in advance of the usual): late * : terminal

    Derived terms

    (Derived terms) * earliness * early bath * early bird/the early bird catches the worm * early doors * early grave * early innings * earlyish * Early Latin * early modern * early music * early on * early purple orchid * early retirement * early spider orchid * early syphilis * * early warning radar * early winter cress * early withdrawal * nice and early

    Adverb

    (er)
  • At a time before expected; sooner than usual.
  • *
    • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=4 , passage=No matter how early I came down, I would find him on the veranda, smoking cigarettes, or otherwise his man would be there with a message to say that his master would shortly join me if I would kindly wait.}}
  • Soon; in good time; seasonably.
  • * Bible, Proverbs viii. 17
    • Those that seek me early shall find me.
  • *
    • You must wake and call me early .

    Synonyms

    * prematurely

    Antonyms

    * late, tardily

    Noun

    (earlies)
  • A shift (scheduled work period) that takes place early in the day.
  • * 2007 , Paul W. Browning, The Good Guys Wear Blue (page 193)
    • On my first day on the watch after leaving the shoplifting squad I paraded on earlies but had completely forgotten to take my ear ring off.

    Statistics

    *

    Anagrams

    * * 1000 English basic words