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!
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
Moreover, America is already committed to defending Greenland against aggression via Article V of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
—
Peter Juul Tribune News Service, Arkansas Online, 24 Jan. 2026
European allies welcomed news of the framework, but some warned that the damage to the EU-US relationship is already done, even after the US backed away from threats to hit them with additional trade tariffs over their opposition to a US takeover.
—Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 24 Jan. 2026
States and cities that have loosened building constraints are already seeing slower rent growth compared to heavily regulated markets.
—J.d. Hayworth, Boston Herald, 24 Jan. 2026
The cost for the statue is estimated at $300,000, with half of the funds already raised by two large donations from Rainbow Sandals and Sonance, an audio equipment company based in San Clemente, as well as several smaller community contributions.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for already
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Peter Juul Tribune News Service, Arkansas Online, 24 Jan. 2026
European allies welcomed news of the framework, but some warned that the damage to the EU-US relationship is already done, even after the US backed away from threats to hit them with additional trade tariffs over their opposition to a US takeover.
—Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 24 Jan. 2026
States and cities that have loosened building constraints are already seeing slower rent growth compared to heavily regulated markets.
—J.d. Hayworth, Boston Herald, 24 Jan. 2026
The cost for the statue is estimated at $300,000, with half of the funds already raised by two large donations from Rainbow Sandals and Sonance, an audio equipment company based in San Clemente, as well as several smaller community contributions.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for already
Cite this Entry
“Already.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/already. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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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