English dictionary

already Meaning & Definition

/ɔːlˈɹɛdi/

What Does Already Mean?

Already is used as an adverb meaning Prior to some specified time, either past, present, or future; by this time; previously. It is also used to mean So soon.

Word Facts for Already

Part of speech	adverb
Pronunciation	/ɔːlˈɹɛdi/
Antonyms	not yet

Already Definition (Adverb)

Prior to some specified time, either past, present, or future; by this time; previously.
I was surprised that she hadn’t already told me the news.
So soon.
Are you quitting already?
An intensifier used to emphasize impatience or express exasperation.
I wish they'd finish already, so we can get going.
Indicates the completion of an action (whether past or hypothetical), or more generally, perfective aspect.
You frame the picture for me already anot?
Marks a change in state, more or less in the same manner as the inchoative aspect.
I don’t think he can take it already.

Synonyms of Already

The source does not list synonyms for this entry.

Already synonyms and antonyms →

Antonyms of Already

not yet

Already in a Sentence

I was surprised that she hadn’t already told me the news.

Much of what he said I knew already.

I still haven't seen that movie. I hope you haven't already seen it either.

Are you quitting already?

I'm on my third coffee already this morning.

I wish they'd finish already, so we can get going.

Enough already!

Be quiet already!

You frame the picture for me already anot?

I don’t think he can take it already.

Your ice cream is melting already.

Overcook already, need to redo.

Your grandmother angry already.

Word Forms & Grammar

already (not comparable)

Words That Rhyme With Already

heady unsteady steady ready thready neddy leddy go steadyediefreddiepreddy reddy pedi-eddieshreddy bready deadymanfreditancredihediabed eabediaforesaid heahead hebed dbed ebed hebloodshed hebread hebue de

Origin of Already

Origin 1: From Middle English alredy (“fully; already”), equivalent to al- (“all, completely”) +‎ ready. Cognate with West Frisian alreeds (“already”), Dutch alreeds (“already”), Afrikaans alreeds (“already”), Middle Low German alreide, alreids ("already"; whence modern German Low German alreeds (“already”)), Danish allerede (“already”), Swedish allaredan (“already”), Norwegian Nynorsk allereie (“already”). More at all, ready.

Origin 2: The use as an intensifier in American English is a semantic loan from Yiddish שוין (shoyn), attested from 1903.

Origin 3: In Singapore English, the use of already as a marker of action completion and change of state is analogous to Hokkien 了 (liáu), Teochew 了 (liao2) and Mandarin 了 (le). Compare Malay (su)dah and Cantonese 咗 (zo2), 喇 (laa3).