already

American  

[awl-red-ee] / ɔlˈrɛd i /

adverb

1. 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.

2. now; so soon; so early.

   Is it noon already?

3. Informal. (used as an intensifier to express exasperation or impatience).

   Let's go already!

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already British  

/ ɔːlˈrɛdɪ /

adverb

1. by or before a stated or implied time

   he is already here

2. at a time earlier than expected

   is it ten o'clock already?

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Commonly Confused

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? ).

Etymology

Origin of already

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”)

Example Sentences

You’ve already spent thousands of dollars for an upcoming cruise vacation.

From MarketWatch

Officials in Vietnam, Thailand and Sri Lanka have already encouraged remote work.

From MarketWatch

“Current Middle East unrest is already starting to impact business operations by increasing lead times, costs, container delays and the like,” one manager in the food and beverage category told the survey.

From The Wall Street Journal

Meanwhile, the company is trying to reduce the inventory that it already has there.

From The Wall Street Journal

Solriamfetol, the drug evaluated in this study, is already approved for treating excessive sleepiness in people with obstructive sleep apnea and narcolepsy.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• before
• earlier
• once
• previously
• then