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

That tournament boosted his profile to the public — but Villa boss Unai Emery had already been hooked during pre-match analysis before facing Manzambi’s Freiburg in the Europa League final. — Cerys Jones, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026

The audit found the programme was already six to 12 months behind schedule because of construction delays and shortages of key components. — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 16 Aug. 2026

In an effort to avoid custom-design traps, the Dutch carrier chose an off-the-shelf model from seat manufacturer Stelia that was already flying on sister airline Air France. — Edward Russell, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026

The technology to run this partnership responsibly already exists. — Sandy Carter, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 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