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

• 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

Traffic changes to Louisville's Main Street are already underway as crews continue to reconfigure the roadway through the spring of 2026. —Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal, 5 Oct. 2025

Hernández’s issues in right field are well-documented, and the Dodgers already had to overcome one major miscue this postseason during Game 2 of the Wild Card Series. —Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025

If this newsletter isn't already getting conveniently delivered to your inbox, click here to subscribe. —Jacob Camenker, USA Today, 5 Oct. 2025

Kerzka and the others did their best to comfort them, to bandage small wounds; the most critically injured were already at the hospital. —Georgea Kovanis, Freep.com, 5 Oct. 2025

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