Word
already
Phoneticsal·ready
US/ɔˈɹɛdi/
UK/ɔːlɹˈɛdi/
Adverb of time
Definitions
01before now
A2 · Elementary
adv. before a particular time, or before the present moment.
adv. prior to a specified or implied time; used to indicate that a state or action already exists or has occurred.
日本語:すでに※
“I have already finished my homework, so I can go out now.”
“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.
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.
Synonyms
02so soon
B1 · Intermediate
adv. used to show surprise that something happened earlier than expected.
adv. indicates surprise or emphasis regarding the early occurrence of an event relative to expectations.
日本語:もう※
Español:ya
“Are you leaving already? You only just got here.”
“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.
Synonyms
03completed action
C2 · Proficiency Dialect
adv. used to show that an action is finished.
adv. functions as a perfective aspect marker to indicate the completion of an action or a change in state.
日本語:もう※
“I eat already, so I am not hungry.”
“In local colloquial usage, a speaker might say 'He go already' to indicate that the person has departed, rather than using the past perfect.”
Teaching tip
This usage is characteristic of Singlish (Singapore English) and some other regional dialects; it replaces standard tense markers.
Confusables
Already marks time to show something happened sooner than expected, while all ready describes a subject that is completely prepared.
RememberAlready = Time. All ready = Prepared.
Already marks an action as completed sooner than anticipated, while yet indicates an action is expected but has not happened by the present moment.
RememberAlready is for 'done'; yet is for 'waiting'.
Just marks an action that happened a moment ago, while already marks an action that happened earlier than expected.
RememberJust is about 'when'; already is about 'so soon'.
Etymology
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).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Grammar
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A2 · ElementaryOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/already
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0