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

And this year, thousands of people have already bought tickets to be a part of it. —CBS News, 11 Apr. 2026

The Iranian delegation, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, was already in Islamabad. —ABC News, 11 Apr. 2026

The money is needed to offset the impact of inflation in an already high-cost region, the union has said. —Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026

Knueppel, who’s already posted a career-high and franchise rookie record-tying eight 3-pointers, owns the NBA rookie record for 3-pointers made in a season (207) and became the fastest player in NBA history to reach 200 career made 3-pointers. —Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 10 Apr. 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