always
Americanadverb
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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
Synonym Usage
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
Explanation
To always do something is to never stop doing it, or to do it every time. Some people believe that if you always say “please” and “thanks,” everyone will love you. They’re wrong, but still — say “please” and “thanks.” The adverb always came about in the mid 14th century. It came from a pair of Old English words, ealne weg, which literally meant "all the way." A lot of times when people use the word they're exaggerating. If you routinely roll into work after everyone else has settled down at their desks, you boss might accuse you of "always" being late, even if you're only late once or twice a week.
Vocabulary lists containing always
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.
“Music has always known when to arrive,” she wrote.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026
But Oddie had always been prone to bouts of depression and he was eventually diagnosed with bipolar disorder - which he occasionally blamed on his remote relationship with his mother.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
Yet people exposed to the same risks do not always experience the same outcome.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 27, 2026
The question is not whether state power or popular power is always safer.
From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026
She tries to keep the desk tidy, but it is always littered with papers, writing supplies, and letters.
From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly
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.
