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!
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
Many were either already public or heavily blacked out.
—
Arkansas Online, 31 Jan. 2026
Bell has already ordered another season, as fans in China, Russia and around the world binge Season 1.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 31 Jan. 2026
According to Kendall Seymour, the father of three of the children, the family did not realize the kids were missing until days after they had already been taken overseas.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 31 Jan. 2026
Cubans already face constant blackouts and long lines at gas stations from a dwindling supply of fuel.
—Uriel Blanco, CNN Money, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for already
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Arkansas Online, 31 Jan. 2026
Bell has already ordered another season, as fans in China, Russia and around the world binge Season 1.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 31 Jan. 2026
According to Kendall Seymour, the father of three of the children, the family did not realize the kids were missing until days after they had already been taken overseas.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 31 Jan. 2026
Cubans already face constant blackouts and long lines at gas stations from a dwindling supply of fuel.
—Uriel Blanco, CNN Money, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for already
Cite this Entry
“Already.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/already. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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