What does "already" mean?

1. (before now) before a particular time, or before the present moment. 2. (so soon) used to show surprise that something happened earlier than expected. 3. (completed action) used to show that an action is finished.

How do you use "already"?

Typically placed between the auxiliary verb and the main verb, or at the end of a clause for emphasis. Often placed at the end of a question or a statement to express disbelief.

Is it correct to say "I already have seen that movie."?

No — say "I have already seen that movie.". In the present perfect tense, 'already' usually goes between the auxiliary verb 'have' and the past participle.

already

adv.

US //ɔˈɹɛdi// UK //ɔːlɹˈɛdi// al·ready

1 before now (adv.)
A2 Elementary

before a particular time, or before the present moment.

prior to a specified or implied time; used to indicate that a state or action already exists or has occurred.

Example

I have already finished my homework, so I can go out now.

Example

By the time the rescue team arrived at the remote cabin, the hikers had already managed to start a fire and stabilize the injured party.

Usage

Typically placed between the auxiliary verb and the main verb, or at the end of a clause for emphasis.
- previously
- beforehand
Pitfall

I already have seen that movie.

I have already seen that movie.

In the present perfect tense, 'already' usually goes between the auxiliary verb 'have' and the past participle.
2 so soon (adv.)
B1 Intermediate

used to show surprise that something happened earlier than expected.

indicates surprise or emphasis regarding the early occurrence of an event relative to expectations.

Example

Are you leaving already? You only just got here.

Example

The director was shocked to find that the budget had been exhausted already, despite the project being only halfway through its initial phase.

Usage

Often placed at the end of a question or a statement to express disbelief.
- so soon
- this early
- finally
- at last

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3 completed action (adv.)
C2 Proficiency Dialect

used to show that an action is finished.

functions as a perfective aspect marker to indicate the completion of an action or a change in state.

Example

I eat already, so I am not hungry.

Example

In local colloquial usage, a speaker might say 'He go already' to indicate that the person has departed, rather than using the past perfect.

Teacher's tip

This usage is characteristic of Singlish (Singapore English) and some other regional dialects; it replaces standard tense markers.

Origin

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