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 revolution is already underway. —Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025

Trump is a man of many hats In Ward 8, which encompasses Donohue's district, troops have already been assigned to help with food distribution at a soup kitchen, according to Donohue and a National Guard member with knowledge of the deployment. —Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 14 Sep. 2025

The Rebels already have 199 yards of offense, including a pair of 60-plus-yard pass plays. —Arkansas Online, 14 Sep. 2025

The company has already laid off more than 100 people, according to sources, started discounting heavily, and had stopped paying deposits to emerging brands. —Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 13 Sep. 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