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

• afore [chiefly dialect]
• ahead
• antecedently
• anteriorly
• before
• beforehand
• earlier
• formerly
• preliminarily
• previously

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

Unlike Anakin, who had never heard of or met the Jedi, viewers meet Osha after she’s already attempted and abandoned her training, working as a mechanic far away from the Jedi temple on Coruscant. —Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 18 July 2024

Previously, Dunne had already secured deals with Vuori, American Eagle and Nautica. —Renan Botelho, WWD, 18 July 2024

Vice President Kamala Harris has already accepted three potential dates for a debate with Trump’s running mate, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio. —Rebecca Morin, USA TODAY, 18 July 2024

At the same time, with the results already certified and the Supes planning to surround the Capitol and the White House, Singer goes on TV to ask for new elections. —Dominic Patten, Deadline, 18 July 2024

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

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