already

adverb

al·​ready ȯl-ˈre-dē How to pronounce already (audio)
ˈȯl-ˌre-dē
Synonyms of already
1
: prior to a specified or implied past, present, or future time : by this time : previously
He had already left when I called.
2
—used as an intensive
All right already.
Enough already!

Synonyms of already

Relevance
See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of already in a Sentence

They've already agreed to come. I'd already left by the time you called. He acted as if he didn't already know. Flight 102 will already have taken off by the time Flight 101 lands. Have they arrived already?! I'm still not dressed! Do you have to go already?
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Plans to eradicate the remaining invasive mammals is already underway. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2026 At 15, Mariana de Miguel was already sneaking into Mexico City’s nightlife with a fake ID, saving money to see the bands that shaped her imagination. — Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 9 Oct. 2026 Storm surge warnings are already in place along the coast, with surges forecast to reach up to 9 feet in some areas. — ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026 For investors, the risk isn't just whether a data center gets built, but whether local and state politics slow down or derail projects already baked into a fund's return assumptions. — Kevin Williams, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for already

Word History

Etymology

Middle English al redy, from al redy, adjective, wholly ready, from al all + redy ready

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of already was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing already

Rhymes for already

See All Rhymes for already

Browse Nearby Words

alraun
already
alright
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Already.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/already. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

already

adverb
al·​ready ȯl-ˈred-ē How to pronounce already (audio)
ˈȯl-ˌred-ē
: before a certain time : by the time
I had already left when you called
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of deportment

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Why do we call it a 'flea market'?
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All