1. happening or existing before all others in time; first
Usage: superlative form of ‘early’

1. at the most early time; soonest
Usage: superlative form of ‘early’

Examples

• The earliest humans lived in Africa.
• She arrived earliest of all the guests.
• What’s the earliest you can meet tomorrow?
• The earliest known writing dates back thousands of years.
• I can leave at 3 PM at the earliest.
• The earliest symptoms appeared last week.
• He was the earliest to arrive at the meeting.