an early lunch

USAGE SUMMARY

'an early lunch' is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it when lunch is taken earlier than usual or expected. For example: "It's such a beautiful day, let's take an early lunch and enjoy it outside."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

There will be an early lunch and a 12.45pm inspection.

The Guardian - Sport

Satisfied by a morning well spent, I left for an early lunch.

The New York Times - Tech

Fog erased, I headed to El Pub for an early lunch.

The New York Times - Travel

Depending on the time, I either get breakfast or I have an early lunch.

The Times

On the Friday before the fire, Bill Purcell met me for an early lunch at Prince's.

The New Yorker

Many students use an early lunch as a study hall to catch up on their work.

The New York Times

The trip would be counted, I promised my colleague, as an early lunch.

The New York Times - Magazine

The remaining upperclassmen had an early lunch and an eighth period class.

The New York Times

Play did not get under way until after an early lunch because of heavy morning rain.

The Guardian - Sport

It's a perfect spot for grazers looking for a late breakfast or an early lunch.

The New York Times - Travel

To me, this decanter is about an early lunch, with a Martinique rum and a Caribbean cigar.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "an early lunch" to clearly indicate a meal taken before the typical lunchtime, whether due to scheduling constraints, travel, or personal preference.

Common error

Avoid using "an early lunch" when you simply mean having lunch at the beginning of your regular lunch break. Instead, reserve it for instances where lunch is genuinely taken much earlier than usual.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "an early lunch" is that of a noun phrase acting as a direct object or subject complement. This is evidenced by Ludwig examples where it denotes the meal itself as a thing.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an early lunch" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to describe a meal taken before the typical lunchtime. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. The phrase is frequently found in news and media contexts. While seemingly straightforward, it's important to use it appropriately to avoid misinterpreting the context. Consider alternatives like "midday snack" or "brunch-like meal" if they better fit the situation. By understanding its nuances and usage patterns, you can effectively incorporate "an early lunch" into your writing and conversation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a premature lunch

Emphasizes the unexpected or unusually early timing of the meal.

a brunch-like meal

Suggests a meal that combines breakfast and lunch elements, often eaten earlier than a typical lunch.

an advanced lunch

Highlights that the timing of lunch is ahead of schedule.

a midday snack

Implies a light meal taken earlier in the day to bridge the gap until dinner.

a quick bite before noon

Focuses on the brevity and early timing of the meal.

an eleven o'clock lunch

Specifies a particular early time for lunch.

a light midday repast

Uses more formal language to describe a light meal taken at midday.

a pre-noon meal

Simply indicates that the meal is consumed before noon.

an impromptu early meal

Highlights the unplanned and early nature of the lunch.

a morning lunch

Directly describes the meal as occurring in the morning, which is earlier than usual.

FAQs

How can I use "an early lunch" in a sentence?

You can use "an early lunch" to describe having lunch before the typical lunchtime. For example, "Due to the meeting, we had "an early lunch" at 11:00 AM".

What is another way to say "an early lunch"?

Alternatives to "an early lunch" include phrases like "a premature lunch", "a midday snack", or "a brunch-like meal", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "early lunch" without the article "an"?

While understandable, it's grammatically preferable to use the article "an" before "early lunch", as in "an early lunch". Omitting the article is less formal but not necessarily incorrect.

What's the difference between "an early lunch" and "an early dinner"?

"An early lunch" refers to having lunch before the usual lunchtime, while "an early dinner" means having dinner before the usual dinnertime. They simply apply to different meals.