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
With roster movement already underway and a top-25 recruiting class incoming, the season that just concluded serves as a foundation rather than a finished product.
—
Aaron Segal, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026
United Teachers Los Angeles, which represents about 37,000 teachers, and SEIU Local 99, which represents roughly 30,000 school support staff, have already set April 14 as a potential strike date if contract agreements are not reached with the district.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 4 Apr. 2026
Poehling already has a career high in points and is one shy of his personal best for goals.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 4 Apr. 2026
Her first name wouldn’t change, and her last name is already the same as mine.
—Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for already
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Aaron Segal, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026
United Teachers Los Angeles, which represents about 37,000 teachers, and SEIU Local 99, which represents roughly 30,000 school support staff, have already set April 14 as a potential strike date if contract agreements are not reached with the district.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 4 Apr. 2026
Poehling already has a career high in points and is one shy of his personal best for goals.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 4 Apr. 2026
Her first name wouldn’t change, and her last name is already the same as mine.
—Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for already
Cite this Entry
“Already.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/already. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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
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