already

adverb

al·​ready ȯl-ˈre-dē How to pronounce already (audio)
ˈȯl-ˌre-dē
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!

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.
Joe Burrow has already attempted 29 passes, completing 17 for 161 yards and a touchdown. NBC News, 8 Nov. 2024 Some residents also expressed reluctance to support the measure, citing the already high cost of living as their main deterrent. Luis Melecio-Zambrano, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024 Answering text messages on my Mac, adding calendar events that would show up on my iPhone, and opening browser tabs from my iPad or iPhone on my Mac in Safari was more than enough, much less everything that Continuity already enabled. PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024 Disneyland adds a few new surprises this Christmas holiday season Many of the most scrumptious looking items on the holiday menu are plays on popular dishes already beloved by Disneylanders. Brady MacDonald, Orange County Register, 7 Nov. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near already

Cite this Entry

“Already.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/already. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on already

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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