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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

With a family legacy rooted in American history—his 6th-generation great uncle being George Washington—Craig developed a strong sense of purpose early on. —

Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 28 Jan. 2025 There has to be more transparency early on about budget-levels and financing terms. —

Annika Pham, Variety, 28 Jan. 2025 At one point early on, someone tried to firebomb the Benders’ home — which also housed the thriving day care business that Patty Bender once operated — by throwing a Molotov cocktail onto the property. —

Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 27 Jan. 2025 Make Budgeting a Collaborative Effort One way to start talking to your kids about money early on is to involve them in budgeting for your household. —

Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 27 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for early on