Definitions:

1. Highlights the timing of someting happening relatively soon after the start. ADVERB
   • The company faced several challenges early on, but they managed to overcome them.
2. Used to describe actions or events that occur at the beginning or initial stage of a process, period, or activity. ADVERB
   • Early on in their relationship, they discovered they had many common interests.
   • I made great decisions early on in my career.

Synonyms:

• At the beginning
• at the outset
• from the start
• in the early stages
• initially