already

American  

[awl-red-ee] / ɔlˈrɛd i /

adverb

1. 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.

2. now; so soon; so early.

   Is it noon already?

3. Informal. (used as an intensifier to express exasperation or impatience).

   Let's go already!

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already British  

/ ɔːlˈrɛdɪ /

adverb

1. by or before a stated or implied time

   he is already here

2. at a time earlier than expected

   is it ten o'clock already?

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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”)

Explanation

Things that happened already are in the past, as in "Stop nagging me! I already cleaned my room." If you did something already, you did it in the past, whether an hour ago or a year ago. A team trying for its second championship already won a championship. A kid who ate cake first has already eaten dessert. If you've never done it, then you can't say you already did it. This word often gets used in exasperated tones, as in "Take out the garbage! I already told you ten times!"

Example Sentences

You may even be surprised that the law didn’t already give you those protections.

From Slate • Jul. 1, 2026

Carl Emmerson, a partner at consultancy London Economics, noted the government already has ambitious efficiency targets baked into its 2025 Spending Review settlements with individual departments, which set their budgets over the coming years.

From BBC • Jul. 1, 2026

UBTech says it has already had more than 13,300 pre-orders, with deliveries due to start in September.

From Barron's • Jul. 1, 2026

Parents who are already repaying loans will lose access to income-driven repayment plans.

From MarketWatch • Jul. 1, 2026

A crowd is already gathering, mostly on picnic blankets and lawn chairs, between the lake and the campgrounds.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Related Words

• before
• earlier
• once
• previously
• then