always

[awl-weyz, -weez]

adverb

1. every time; on every occasion; without exception.

   He always works on Saturday.

   Synonyms: consistently, regularly

2. all the time; continuously; uninterruptedly.

   There is always some pollution in the air.

   Synonyms: unceasingly, perpetually, constantly

3. forever.

   Will you always love me?

   Synonyms: evermore, eternally

4. in any event; at any time; if necessary.

   She can always move back with her parents.

always

/ ˈɔːlweɪz, -wɪz /

adverb

1. without exception; on every occasion; every time

   he always arrives on time

2. continually; repeatedly

3. in any case

   you could always take a day off work

4. informal,  for ever; without end

   our marriage is for always

Word History and Origins

Origin of always¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English alwayes, alleweyes, alles weis, alteration of alle wey alway

Word History and Origins

Origin of always¹

C13 alles weiss, from Old English ealne weg, literally: all the way; see _all , _way

Synonym Study

Both always and ever refer to uniform or perpetual continuance. Always often expresses or implies repetition as producing the uniformity or continuance: The sun always rises in the east. Ever implies an unchanging sameness throughout: Natural law is ever to be reckoned with.

Example Sentences

“The calculation for Maduro is that he will always be safer here than anywhere else,” said Phil Gunson, an analyst in Caracas for the International Crisis Group, which works to prevent violent conflict in Venezuela.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

And at the end of “Lady in the Lake,” Maddie has the realization that whoever she’s writing about, she’s always been writing about herself.

Read more on Salon

She told BBC News NI she always tries to budget her money but "it's still hard even when you learn to budget, it still takes a strain on you".

Read more on BBC

Thanksgiving always gets me to slow down, and this year that pause made me realize how thankful I am for the little moments in life.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

There is a tradition of geographical rotation, which would make it Latin America's turn this time around, but it's not always followed.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• consistently 
• constantly 
• ever 
• invariably 
• regularly 
• repeatedly