ALREADY Definition & Meaning

View synonyms for

already

[ awl-red-ee ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adverb

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.
now; so soon; so early:
Is it noon already?
Informal. (used as an intensifier to express exasperation or impatience):
Let's go already!

already

/ ɔː��ˈ��ɛ��ɪ /

adverb

by or before a stated or implied time
he is already here
at a time earlier than expected
is it ten o'clock already?

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Confusables Note

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? ).

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of already¹

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”)

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Ted Cruz, an arch-conservative senator from Texas, said on his podcast on Friday that Trump's tariffs "could hurt jobs and could hurt America" - particularly if other nations retaliate, as China has already done.

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“We already have a signed contract with the federal government for that money. And we’ve been told it’s being clawed back.”

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China, already the continent's biggest trading partner, could take further advantage.

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“On its second anniversary, Measure ULA is already producing hundreds of units of affordable housing, protecting tens of thousands of renters and creating thousands of construction jobs,” Donlin said.

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The wide gap in quality between the two projects speaks clearly to the dissonance between incisive, intelligent creators and those who want little more than to capitalize on an already dying trend.

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