already

adverb

al·​ready ȯl-ˈre-dē 

ˈȯl-ˌre-dē

1

: prior to a specified or implied past, present, or future time : by this time : previously

He had already left when I called.

2

—used as an intensive

All right already.

Enough already!

Synonyms

• earlier
• ahead
• previously
• early
• before

Examples of already in a Sentence

They've already agreed to come.

I'd already left by the time you called.

He acted as if he didn't already know.

Flight 102 will already have taken off by the time Flight 101 lands.

Have they arrived already?! I'm still not dressed!

Do you have to go already?

Recent Examples on the Web

The decision to add to the more than 1,400 troops already on wildfire duty came as authorities struggled to contain forest blazes. —Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Aug. 2025

Prior to the summit, analysts were already casting doubt on the talks advancing any real ceasefire in Ukraine. —Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2025

According to the airline, 42% of its core fleet of ground vehicles is already electrified, and the company is on track to reach 100% electrification by 2035. —Zach Wichter, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2025

Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, and J.J. Spaun have already qualified for the US, along with McIlroy, Justin Rose, and Tommy Fleetwood for Europe. —Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 17 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English al redy, from al redy, adjective, wholly ready, from al all + redy ready

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing already

• all right already

Rhymes for already

• unsteady
• heady
• ready
• reddi
• steady
• teddy
• thready

Kids Definition

already

adverb

al·​ready ȯl-ˈred-ē 

ˈȯl-ˌred-ē

: before a certain time : by the time

I had already left when you called