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
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 individual who was hit with the stun gun was already pinned down by officers when the weapon was deployed.
—
Patrick Smith, NBC News, 26 Apr. 2024
By the time the military acknowledged there was petroleum in the water, people had already begun feeling the health impacts, many of which are still being experienced today — more than 2 1/2 years later.
—Li Cohen, CBS News, 25 Apr. 2024
Photo: Courtesy of ERL Photo: Courtesy of ERL Photo: Courtesy of ERL
Photo: Courtesy of ERL
In a fashion world already high on its own supply of luxurious everyday wear, super riche basics might not seem novel, but what Linnetz has created with his hands in his studio is unique.
—Steff Yotka, Vogue, 25 Apr. 2024
Questions were already being raised about his performance: Was something wrong?
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2024
Even the city’s former mayor, Massimo Cacciari, urged tourists not to pay the tax, arguing they were already overcharged for their food and transport, speaking to the Adnkronos news agency.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 25 Apr. 2024
Many hiring managers, after all, most value job candidates who already have a certain level of experience in the same industry.
—Cathy Bussewitz, Fortune, 25 Apr. 2024
Global average temperatures have already risen about 1.2 degrees Celsius.
—Jeff Brady, NPR, 25 Apr. 2024
The Justices have already come under criticism for their delay in taking up Trump's appeal, waiting until the last day of the term for oral arguments.
—Nik Popli, TIME, 25 Apr. 2024
Patrick Smith, NBC News, 26 Apr. 2024
By the time the military acknowledged there was petroleum in the water, people had already begun feeling the health impacts, many of which are still being experienced today — more than 2 1/2 years later.
—Li Cohen, CBS News, 25 Apr. 2024
Photo: Courtesy of ERL Photo: Courtesy of ERL Photo: Courtesy of ERL
Photo: Courtesy of ERL
In a fashion world already high on its own supply of luxurious everyday wear, super riche basics might not seem novel, but what Linnetz has created with his hands in his studio is unique.
—Steff Yotka, Vogue, 25 Apr. 2024
Questions were already being raised about his performance: Was something wrong?
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2024
Even the city’s former mayor, Massimo Cacciari, urged tourists not to pay the tax, arguing they were already overcharged for their food and transport, speaking to the Adnkronos news agency.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 25 Apr. 2024
Many hiring managers, after all, most value job candidates who already have a certain level of experience in the same industry.
—Cathy Bussewitz, Fortune, 25 Apr. 2024
Global average temperatures have already risen about 1.2 degrees Celsius.
—Jeff Brady, NPR, 25 Apr. 2024
The Justices have already come under criticism for their delay in taking up Trump's appeal, waiting until the last day of the term for oral arguments.
—Nik Popli, TIME, 25 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'already.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near already
Cite this Entry
“Already.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/already. Accessed 2 May. 2024.
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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