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adverb al·ready \ȯl-ˈre-dÄ“, ˈȯl-ËŒ\

: before this time : before now : before that time

: so soon : so early

—used to describe a situation that exists now and that will continue to exist

Full Definition of ALREADY

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>

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Examples of ALREADY

1. They've already agreed to come.
2. I'd already left by the time you called.
3. He acted as if he didn't already know.
4. Flight 102 will already have taken off by the time Flight 101 lands.
5. Have they arrived already?! I'm still not dressed!
6. Do you have to go already?

Origin of ALREADY

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

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to ALREADY

Synonyms

afore [chiefly dialect], ahead, antecedently, anteriorly, before, beforehand, earlier, formerly, preliminarily, previously

Antonyms

after, afterward (or afterwards), later

Related Words

a priori, early, prematurely; first, first off, now; before long, erelong [archaic], presently, shortly, soon

Near Antonyms

behind, by and by, next, subsequently

Rhymes with ALREADY

go steady, makeready, unsteady