late vs early

Definitions

adjective

1. of the immediate past or just previous to the present time
2. (used especially of persons) of the immediate past
3. at or toward an end or late period or stage of development
4. having died recently
5. of a later stage in the development of a language or literature; used especially of dead languages

adverb

1. later than usual or than expected
2. to an advanced time
3. at an advanced age or stage
4. in the recent past

Examples

When the new foods that came from the Americas - peppers, summer squash and especially tomatoes - took hold in the region, a number of closely related dishes were born, including what we call ratatouille - and a man from La Mancha calls pisto, an Ikarian Greek calls soufiko and a Turk calls turlu.

It also seems to carry the well-tempered glow of late Woody Allen with a well-satisfied view of late life and with few illusions.

deflate a balloon

View all examples

Definitions

adjective

1. very young
2. being or occurring at an early stage of development
3. of an early stage in the development of a language or literature
4. belonging to the distant past
5. at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time

adverb

1. before the usual time or the time expected
2. during an early stage
3. in good time

Examples

He called the foiled butt "Really juicy and nearly perfect.

If there was any hope of holding on to even a shred of her dwindling self-respect, she should do exactly what she knew Margo would do—close the laptop, take her de-scrunchied, perfumed, and nearly thonged self down to the nearest club, pick up the first passably good-looking stranger who asked her to dance, and bring him back to the apartment for some safe but anonymous sex.

It should be a baritone scoring game and the unfortunate should be in early disceptation for a top 3 pick.

View all examples