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

Health officials in Finland have already used some of their stockpiled vaccines for high-risk people. —Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2025

Our generation is playing an important role in bridging that gap and continuing the work our elders have already done. —Kyle Denis, Billboard, 18 Feb. 2025

Hmm… anyone else already getting Grey’s Anatomy vibes? —Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 18 Feb. 2025

In the region there are already a Maison Margiela store in Dubai and a Marni store in Riyadh. —Luisa Zargani, WWD, 18 Feb. 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

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