earliest opportunity

USAGE SUMMARY

'earliest opportunity' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to the soonest or most convenient time. For example, "I will contact you at the earliest opportunity to discuss the project further."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I will do so at my earliest opportunity".

The New Yorker

"And then at their earliest opportunity, they defaulted".

The New York Times

It will be launched at "the earliest opportunity" in 2010.

The Guardian - Money

The earliest opportunity to publish is Tuesday 8 November".

The Guardian

Most chose to jump ship at the earliest opportunity.

The Guardian

He would meet them "at the earliest opportunity", he said.

The Guardian

7. Build links among national distributors at the earliest opportunity.

Harvard Business Review

The author urges that these should be incorporated into current design codes at the earliest opportunity.

Thin-Walled Structures

Our goal is to have a second team in N.Y. at the earliest opportunity.

The New York Times - Sports

Government must remedy this by changing the law at the earliest opportunity.

Independent

We demand a spin-off series for them at the earliest opportunity.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "earliest opportunity" when you want to convey a sense of urgency and promptness. It is suitable for formal and informal contexts, but avoid overuse to maintain its impact.

Common error

While "earliest opportunity" is a useful phrase, avoid using it excessively in a single piece of writing. Overuse can make your writing sound repetitive. Consider using synonyms like "as soon as possible" or "at the first chance" to vary your language.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "earliest opportunity" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often acting as an adverbial modifier indicating when an action will take place. Ludwig provides numerous examples of this usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "earliest opportunity" is a widely used noun phrase that conveys a commitment to acting promptly. It is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, ranging from news and media to scientific and business communications. As supported by Ludwig, the phrase serves to assure that an action will be taken swiftly and without delay. While highly versatile, it's important to avoid overuse and consider synonyms to maintain writing impact. Ludwig AI also indicates that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

soonest chance

This alternative replaces "opportunity" with "chance", emphasizing the element of possibility and timing.

first chance

This alternative uses "first" to highlight the immediacy of the action.

soonest possibility

This alternative replaces "opportunity" with "possibility", focusing on whether it can be done quickly.

first moment

This alternative emphasizes a specific point in time when something can be done.

immediate opportunity

This alternative amplifies the sense of urgency and immediacy.

next available moment

This alternative stresses the availability of time.

quickest time

This alternative emphasizes speed and efficiency.

at your convenience

This alternative focuses on the convenience of the person taking action, rather than the timing itself.

without delay

This alternative implies that action will be taken immediately and without any waiting.

at the first instance

This alternative offers a more formal and emphatic way of indicating immediacy.

FAQs

How can I use "earliest opportunity" in a sentence?

You can use "earliest opportunity" to indicate that something will be done as soon as it is possible or convenient. For example, "I will address your concerns at the "earliest opportunity"".

What phrases are similar in meaning to "earliest opportunity"?

Alternatives to "earliest opportunity" include "as soon as possible", "at the first chance", or "at the soonest convenience". Choose the phrase that best fits the tone and context of your writing.

Is "earliest opportunity" formal or informal?

"Earliest opportunity" is versatile and appropriate for both formal and informal contexts. However, in very casual settings, phrases like "as soon as I can" might be more suitable.

What is the difference between "earliest opportunity" and "latest opportunity"?

"Earliest opportunity" refers to doing something as soon as possible, while "latest opportunity" refers to the last possible time to do something before it's too late. They are antonyms, representing opposite ends of a time spectrum.