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ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Already

/ɔːlˈɹɛdi/ · adverb

Meaning

Prior to some specified time, either past, present, or future; by this time; previously..

Definitions by Sense

  1. Prior to some specified time, either past, present, or future; by this time; previously.
  2. So soon.
  3. (US, Canada) An intensifier used to emphasize impatience or express exasperation.
  4. (Singapore, Singlish) Indicates the completion of an action (whether past or hypothetical), or more generally, perfective aspect.
  5. (Singapore, Singlish) Marks a change in state, more or less in the same manner as the inchoative aspect.

Example Sentences

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.
Tho, when-as all things ready were aright, / The Damzel was before the Altar ſet, / Being already dead with fearful fright.
slipping then my cloaths off, I crept under the bed-cloaths, where I found the young stripling already nestled, and the touch of his warm flesh rather pleas'd than alarm'd me.
It was already dusk, and the lamps were just being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, waiting for the coming of its occupant.
Plastics are energy-rich substances, which is why many of them burn so readily. Any organism that could unlock and use that energy would do well in the Anthropocene. Terrestrial bacteria and fungi which can manage this trick, already familiar to experts in the field.
Are you quitting already?

Synonyms for already

Antonyms for already

Related Words

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

Practice and Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions

What does already mean?

Already means Prior to some specified time, either past, present, or future; by this time; previously..

What is a synonym for already?

Common synonyms include liao.

What is the opposite of already?

Possible antonyms include not yet.

How do you use already in a sentence?

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

Sources & Attribution

FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.