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 of already

• 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

With momentum building around women's basketball, some fans are already thinking beyond March Madness. —Conor McGill, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026

This time, however, travelers are already facing long lines and delays due to the ongoing partial government shutdown, which has left thousands of TSA workers without pay. —De'anthony Taylor, Baltimore Sun, 28 Mar. 2026

Outside, my father was already chipping ice from the windshield of our rusted station wagon. —Zayd Ayers Dohrn, New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2026

The Heat starting unit’s only positive minutes on Friday came to begin the third quarter when the Cavaliers were already ahead by more than 30 points. —Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2026

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