early-stage

/ˌɜː.liˈsteɪdʒ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌɝː.liˈsteɪdʒ/ (ame, ipa)

early-stage — adjective

1. describes something that has just begun and is still in the first part of its de

1.形容詞B2
釋義

describes something that has just begun and is still in the first part of its development.

例句

Femi invested in an early-stage company that still worked from one room.

early-stage + company

The doctor found the cancer while it was still early-stage.

predicative: be early-stage

同義詞
  • initial

    often just marks the first step, without stressing ongoing development.

  • emerging

    suggests something is beginning to become visible or important.

  • developing

    is broader and can describe something beyond its earliest phase.

  • preliminary

    often describes work done before the main stage, especially in formal settings.

反義詞
  • late-stage

    describes something much further along in its development.

  • mature

    suggests the process or product has fully developed.

  • advanced

    focuses on being well beyond the beginning phase.

文法句型

early-stage company

early-stage research

early-stage cancer

be early-stage

用法筆記

Usually appears before nouns such as company, research, cancer, or trial. After a linking verb, it is most natural in technical or professional contexts.

常見錯誤

❌The startup is in early-stage.
✅The startup is early-stage.' / 'The startup is at an early stage.
💡use the hyphenated adjective without 'in', or change to the noun phrase 'at an early stage'.
❌They need an early stage plan.
✅They need an early-stage plan.
💡hyphenate the compound when it comes before a noun.