Ahead of schedule

Latest answer — September 08, 2026

53 Across

Scroll down for rest of crossword answers

Clue explained

EARLY means ahead of the scheduled or expected time, so it fits “ahead of schedule.” It is an adjective or adverb depending on its use in a sentence.

Clue type:
Definition
A person waiting before the scheduled start of an appointment.

WaPo Crossword

This clue's Tuesday, September 08, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Outings with a significant other
  2. 6Ancestry test sample
  3. 9Reach across
  4. 13NCAA hoops powerhouse
  5. 14Paid players
  6. 15__ Zor-El: Supergirl
  7. 16Mall kiosk for pictures
  8. 18Soothes, as a sprain
  9. 19Dragon roll option
  10. 20Places for posters
  11. 21Tuckered out
  12. 22Night out before tying the knot
  13. 25Artichoke core
  14. 26Dudes
  15. 27Mild, medium, or hot dip
  16. 28Greek god with arrows
  17. 30Symbol on Chile's flag
  18. 34Mango center
  19. 35Refuse to patronize
  20. 38In the style of
  21. 39"What's more ... "
  22. 41Cabbage unit
  23. 42__ salts: footbath additive
  24. 44Gator relative
  25. 46Totally steamed
  26. 47Court marking that's 15 feet from the backboard
  27. 52Chowder server
  28. 53Ahead of schedule
  29. 54"Impractical Jokers" network
  30. 57Cornstarch brand
  31. 58Tries, or what one does at 16-, 22-, and 47-Across
  32. 60Swimming event
  33. 61"Yes, exactly!"
  34. 62Knightley of "Atonement"
  35. 63Drops a fly ball, say
  36. 64"People Puzzler" channel
  37. 65Map feature

Down

  1. 1Bamboozle
  2. 2Dull pain
  3. 3Accessories worn at construction sites
  4. 4Doc who treats rhinitis
  5. 5Crustacean found in cold northern oceans
  6. 6Dryly humorous
  7. 7Mediocre at best
  8. 8Tandoor residue
  9. 9Ticket for access to the slopes
  10. 10Indiana basketball player
  11. 11"Why __ you ready?"
  12. 12Extremely mean
  13. 14Flag holder
  14. 17Bank of Thailand coin
  15. 21Undercover agent
  16. 23Small batteries
  17. 24Coating on a junkyard car
  18. 25Hard precipitation
  19. 27Mineral bath place
  20. 28Skin care products that treat fine lines
  21. 29Color TV pioneer
  22. 31"Have a little bite!"
  23. 32Succulent that grows pups
  24. 33Horned sheep
  25. 36"Pick me! Pick me!"
  26. 37Dish marinated in soy sauce and mirin
  27. 40Spotted rainforest cats
  28. 43Stovetop vessel
  29. 45Driver's path: Abbr.
  30. 46Misfortunes
  31. 47Moth magnet
  32. 48Harder to find
  33. 49Lawn care device
  34. 50Like some whiskey barrels
  35. 51Small brown bird
  36. 55Snoozefest
  37. 56"Right away!"
  38. 58Identify on social media
  39. 59Rep.'s colleague

The answer to “Ahead of schedule” in the The Washington Post crossword is EARLY — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on September 8, 2026, a Tuesday puzzle, at 53-Across. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“Ahead of schedule” answer

EARLY (5 letters)

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is EARLY.

What does EARLY mean?

Reading the plain dictionary sense of EARLY is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.

(adjective)

  • happening or done before the usual or expected time
  • belonging or happening near the beginning of a particular period

When else has “Ahead of schedule” appeared?

The Washington Post reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

September 8, 2026 (most recent) → EARLY. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Ahead of schedule”?

The answer is EARLY, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on September 8, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Ahead of schedule”?

5 letters: EARLY.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Washington Post crossword on September 8, 2026 (a Tuesday puzzle), at 53-Across.

Can “Ahead of schedule” have a different answer?

Yes — The Washington Post sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day's WaPo Crossword answers?

The full grid for September 8, 2026 is on the WaPo Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

The Washington Post Crossword is published by The Washington Post; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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