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

See Examples For:

already

With many Americans already feeling pinched after postpandemic inflation drove up the prices of goods and services, that could be a recipe for even greater economic malaise.

From Slate ● Aug. 20, 2026

Exchange for Change, which had already been chosen to run the new recycling programmes in the rest of the UK, will run Wales' DRS from its launch in October 2027.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

The Clecat association noted the low river levels had already resulted in "higher transport costs, delays, postponed shipments and reduced production flexibility".

From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026

Rural hospitals, many already operating on razor-thin margins, would be especially vulnerable.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026

The guard was already at the next cell.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

Related Words

• before
• earlier
• once
• previously
• then