always
Americanadverb
-
every time; on every occasion; without exception.
He always works on Saturday.
- Synonyms:
- consistently, regularly
-
all the time; continuously; uninterruptedly.
There is always some pollution in the air.
- Synonyms:
- unceasingly, perpetually, constantly
-
Will you always love me?
-
in any event; at any time; if necessary.
She can always move back with her parents.
adverb
-
without exception; on every occasion; every time
he always arrives on time
-
continually; repeatedly
-
in any case
you could always take a day off work
-
informal for ever; without end
our marriage is for always
Related Words
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.
Etymology
Origin of always
First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English alwayes, alleweyes, alles weis, alteration of alle wey alway
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.
James Woolery, former senior partner at Cravath who later founded his own law firm, said Barshay always wanted to be a great M&A lawyer.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026
In Sunday’s finale, it was always all of them, a scrambling, scrapping bunch that stunned the three-time champion Gamecocks into submission in the third-biggest blowout in women’s final history.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2026
Mellors acquired another theme park, Fantasy Island, in Ingoldmells, in 2016 but says he has always had his eye on Lightwater Valley.
From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026
But it’s his numbers on the economy, which has always been his strongest issue, that are the most significant.
From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026
“But Picnic is something—well, Angelina didn’t grow up here, so it don’t mean the same thing to her. And she always felt people were staring at her.”
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
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.
