Early
Early adjective - Occurring before the usual or expected time.
Usage example: we had an early dinner so as not to miss the concert
Sudden
Sudden adjective - Not expected.
Early and sudden are semantically related. Sometimes you can use "Early" instead an adjective "Sudden".
Nearby Words: suddenly, suddenness
Mutual synonyms
Both words in one sentence
- Her husband's apparently sudden and early death had her stricken with grief, to the point that she wasn't capable of giving comfort to her son, Izumi/Leo, and caring well for him, needing comfort herself.
Source: Parents as People - This, paired with Locke's sudden ability to walk after years of paralysis, was an early hint that the island itself has Healing Hands.
Source: Instant Birth, Just Add Water -
Sudden Anatomy: In one early episode, Mandy spontaneously grows nostrils when Billy picks her nose.
Cite this Source
Sudden and Early. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 22, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/early/sudden
Early & Sudden. N.p., 2016. Web. 22 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/early/sudden>.
Sudden or Early. 2016. Accessed July 22, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/early/sudden.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "early" and "sudden" have occurred on timeline