already
Americanadverb
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by this or that time; prior to or at some specified or implied time; previously.
When we came in, we found they had already arrived.
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now; so soon; so early.
Is it noon already?
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Informal. (used as an intensifier to express exasperation or impatience).
Let's go already!
adverb
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by or before a stated or implied time
he is already here
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at a time earlier than expected
is it ten o'clock already?
Commonly Confused
Although already and all ready are often indistinguishable in speech, the written forms have distinct meanings and uses. The phrase all ready means “entirely ready” or “prepared” ( I was all ready to leave on vacation ). Already means “previously” ( The plane had already left the airport ) or “so soon” ( Is it lunchtime already? ).
Etymology
Origin of already
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English al redy “all ready”; what originally meant “completely ( all ) ready” and modified the subject ( The porter all ready was there ) was taken adverbially as modifying the predicate ( The porter already was there, meaning “from an earlier time”)
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But Chalamet was already playing nearly well enough to emulate a world champion on screen.
From Los Angeles Times
Ms Magnusson says there has already been "a lot of interest" in the friendcare project from the other businesses in the network.
From BBC
The Nuggets are already dealing with an injury crisis that has left them deprived of regular starters Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun.
From Barron's
The Rams, who have already clinched a playoff berth, had gone into Monday's game in Atlanta hoping for a win to boost their postseason seeding.
From Barron's
Investors had already been avoiding the Los Angeles housing market because of what they see as a harsher regulatory environment, said Greg Harris, a multifamily investment broker with Institutional Property Advisors in Los Angeles.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
