take off earlier

USAGE SUMMARY

"take off earlier" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to a plane taking off before an expected time. For example, "The plane's scheduled take-off was at 7 PM but it ended up taking off earlier."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"I'm surprised it didn't take off earlier," says Spiegelman, "because comics have that quality of personal storytelling.

The Guardian - Books

First, increasing µi causes cultural complexity to take off earlier than the same increase in µs.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

She'll take off early tomorrow so I can work a full day.

The New York Times

So they take off early in the morning to hunt for dead animals to eat.

The Washington Post

He tells me I should take off early, that my boss will understand because this is an extenuating circumstance.

The New Yorker

They were A.W.O.L., had got hold of a play and planned to take off early the next morning, unless, of course, they were picked up in the meantime.

The New Yorker

Wall Street weathers storm Hurricane Floyd began to ravage Manhattan with torrid rains this morning, and many investment professionals said they planned to take off early to avoid the brunt of the storm.

Forbes

But, anyway, back to being a postdoc... as a postdoc I am able to take off early when needed, stay at home with her when she was sick, go on outings with her class, and take a few weeks a year off and go on vacation.

Science Magazine

Basically, the jets take off early and circle a 12 mile radius around the stadium.

Vice

One week a day to take off early and dedicate their evenings entirely to their loved ones.

Huffington Post

And as skills have risen, so has financial performance, to the point where sophisticated investors are eyeing regeneration as a source of future returns.In fact, Italy was relatively late to industrialise and has fewer eyesores, mainly in its northern cities, than countries where manufacturing and mining took off earlier.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing schedules, use "take off earlier" to clearly indicate a change from the original plan. For example, "Due to favorable winds, the flight might "take off earlier" than anticipated."

Common error

Avoid using "take off earlier" when describing continuous processes or events. It primarily applies to departures or scheduled beginnings, not ongoing activities.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take off earlier" functions as a verb phrase, typically modifying a noun (such as 'flight', 'plane', 'launch') to indicate that a scheduled departure or start is happening before its anticipated time. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "take off earlier" is a grammatically sound and comprehensible expression used to describe a departure or beginning that happens ahead of schedule. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. While not exceedingly common, it finds its place in news reporting, scientific contexts, and everyday discussions. Keep in mind it is more appropriate for scheduled departures, not continuous events. Related phrases like "depart sooner" or "leave ahead of schedule" can be used for variety or emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

depart sooner

Focuses on the action of leaving sooner than expected.

leave ahead of schedule

Emphasizes the action of leaving before the planned time.

begin the flight ahead of time

Highlights the start of a flight happening earlier.

advance the departure

Focuses on changing the departure to an earlier time.

move the takeoff to an earlier time

Explicitly refers to changing the takeoff time.

launch prematurely

Implies taking off before being fully ready or when it's advisable.

lift off before the appointed time

More formal way of saying taking off earlier.

get a head start

Implies starting an activity or journey before others.

initiate the flight prematurely

More technical way of referring to an unscheduled flight.

jump the gun

Idiomatic expression indicating starting something too soon.

FAQs

What does "take off earlier" mean?

The phrase "take off earlier" typically refers to departing or starting a journey or flight before the originally scheduled time.

How can I use "take off earlier" in a sentence?

You can use "take off earlier" to describe a flight that departs ahead of schedule. For example: "The plane may "depart sooner" if all passengers are boarded ahead of time."

Which is more appropriate, "take off earlier" or "take off before"?

"Take off earlier" is generally preferred when comparing to a specific scheduled time, while "take off before" is used when comparing to another event. The choice depends on the specific context.

What are some synonyms for "take off earlier"?

Some alternatives to "take off earlier" include "depart sooner", "leave ahead of schedule", or "begin the flight ahead of time".