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
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
The partnership between an iconic beer company and a trans woman had already prompted a right-wing boycott of the beer maker, and Ritchie’s stunt fanned the flames.
—
David Peisner, Rolling Stone, 20 May 2024
The Florida Panthers had barely been off the ice a few minutes after clinching their second-round Stanley Cup playoffs series against the Boston Bruins, and Matthew Tkachuk was already racing to get out of TD Garden so the real celebration with his teammates could begin.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 19 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for already 
David Peisner, Rolling Stone, 20 May 2024
The Florida Panthers had barely been off the ice a few minutes after clinching their second-round Stanley Cup playoffs series against the Boston Bruins, and Matthew Tkachuk was already racing to get out of TD Garden so the real celebration with his teammates could begin.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 19 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for already
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'already.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near already
Cite this Entry
“Already.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/already. Accessed 23 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
already
adverb
al·ready
ȯl-ˈred-ē 
ˈȯl-ˌred-ē
: before a certain time : by the time
I had already left when you called
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share