What does "already" mean?
Prior to some specified time, either past, present, or future; by this time; previously.
Already
/ɔːlˈɹɛdi/ adv
adv ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Prior to some specified time, either past, present, or future; by this time; previously.
- Grammar: already is listed as adv.
- Nearest alternatives: as yet, been there, before, before all.
- Useful contrasts: afresh, late, yet.
- Usage evidence: The day before yesterday you impressed everyone, but I already knew you.
How to use "already"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "already" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "already" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "already" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "already" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "already" is acting as adv in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "as yet" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "already", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Adverb
- 1 Prior to some specified time, either past, present, or future; by this time; previously. not-comparable
"I was surprised that she hadn’t already told me the news."
- 2 So soon. not-comparable
"Are you quitting already?"
- 3 An intensifier used to emphasize impatience or express exasperation. Canada, US, not-comparable
"I wish they'd finish already, so we can get going."
- 4 Indicates the completion of an action (whether past or hypothetical), or more generally, perfective aspect. Singapore, Singlish, not-comparable
"You frame the picture for me already anot?"
- 5 Marks a change in state, more or less in the same manner as the inchoative aspect. Singapore, Singlish, not-comparable
"I don’t think he can take it already."
Adverb
- 1 prior to a specified or implied time wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"The day before yesterday you impressed everyone, but I already knew you."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "already"?
Common synonyms include: as yet, been there, before, before all, beforehand, by this time.
How do you use "already" in a sentence?
The day before yesterday you impressed everyone, but I already knew you.
How do you pronounce "already"?
Pronounced /ɔːlˈɹɛdi/.
Etymology
From Middle English alredy (“fully; already”), equivalent to al- (“all, completely”) + ready. Cognate with West Frisian alreeds (“already”), Dutch alreeds (“already”), Afrikaans alreeds (“already”), Middle Low German alreide, alreids ("already"; whence modern German Low German alreeds (“already”)), Danish allerede (“already”), Swedish allaredan (“already”), Norwegian Nynorsk allereie (“already”). More at all, ready. The use as an intensifier in American English is a semantic loan from Yiddish שוין (shoyn), attested from 1903. In Singapore English, the use of already as a marker of action completion and change of state is analogous to Hokkien 了 (liáu), Teochew 了 (liao²) and Mandarin 了 (le). Compare Malay (su)dah and Cantonese 咗 (zo²), 喇 (laa³).