| 100% | PUP | 3 | Lab in its early stages |
| 56% | ORIG | 4 | In its earliest form: abbr. |
| 53% | EMBRYO | 6 | Early stage in development |
| 50% | LARVA | 5 | Early stage in a butterfly's life |
| 50% | LARVA | 5 | Early stage in an insect's life |
| 50% | PUPA | 4 | Early stage in an insect's metamorphosis |
| 50% | EMBRYONIC | 9 | In the earliest stage of development; rudimentary |
| 49% | IHOP | 4 | Breakfast chain that punnily used a kangaroo in its early commercials |
| 48% | PRIMITIVE | 9 | Relating to an early stage in development |
| 48% | EFT | 3 | Newt in its terrestrial stage |
| 48% | DST | 3 | It ends in early Nov. |
| 48% | LABORDAY | 8 | It comes early in September |
| 48% | IPOD | 4 | Its early ads touted "1,000 songs in your pocket" |
| 47% | NASA | 4 | Its work is done in stages |
| 47% | OATER | 5 | It may be set in stages |
| 47% | ATOM | 4 | It's smashed in a lab |
| 47% | METH | 4 | It's cooked up in labs |
| 47% | BUD | 3 | Nip it in the ___ (destroy something in an early stage) |
| 46% | RAT | 3 | It may be studied in a lab |
| 46% | DARKROOM | 8 | It's lights out in this lab |
| 46% | RAID | 4 | Early occurrence in "Some Like It Hot" |
| 46% | EDT | 3 | It ended early last month in NYC |
| 45% | NIP | 3 | "___ it in the bud" (suppress early on) |
| 45% | EFT | 3 | A newt in its terrestrial stage |
| 45% | ACID | 4 | It should be handled with care in a lab |
| 45% | TET | 3 | It's celebrated in late January or early February |
| 44% | NIP | 3 | ___ it in the bud (catch a problem early) |
| 44% | RAT | 3 | In a lab, it's often white |
| 44% | BUD | 3 | Nip it in the ___ (stop at an early stage) |
| 44% | NIP | 3 | ___ it in the bud (put an end to, early) |