Word
always
Phoneticsal·ways, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɔɫˌweɪz/
UK/ˈɔːlweɪz/
Adverb of frequency
Definitions
01at all times
A1 · Beginner
adv. every time or all the time.
adv. at all times; on every occasion without exception.
“The sun always rises in the east every morning.”
“The legal department always reviews the contracts before they are sent to the client to ensure full compliance with local regulations.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02repeatedly
A2 · Elementary
adv. happening very often or all the time, sometimes in an annoying way.
adv. occurring with great frequency or persistence, often used with continuous tenses to express habit or irritation.
“He is always losing his keys right when we need to leave.”
“The neighbours are always complaining about the noise, even when we are just having a quiet dinner on the patio.”
Synonyms
03as a backup option
B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal
adv. you use this to suggest a plan if other things do not work.
adv. used to suggest a course of action that remains available if other options fail.
“If the restaurant is full, we can always just order a pizza.”
“While the primary strategy is to sell the assets, we can always apply for a short-term loan if the market remains stagnant.”
Teaching tip
This sense is common in spoken English when making suggestions or offering solutions.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “always” in context.
Usage
Frequency adverb — typically placed before the main verb, but after the verb 'to be'.
Pitfall
I always am happy.
I am always happy.
Frequency adverbs like 'always' must follow the verb 'to be', even though they precede most other verbs.
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-der.? Proto-Indo-European *h₂elnós Proto-Germanic *allaz Proto-West Germanic *all Old English eall Proto-Indo-European *weǵʰ-der. Proto-Germanic *wegaz Proto-West Germanic *weg Old English weġ Old English ealneġ Middle English alwey Proto-Germanic *-as Proto-West Germanic *-as Old English -es Middle English -es Middle English alweyes English always From Middle English alweyes, alwayes, alweys, a variant of Middle English alwey, alway (“always”), from Old English ealneġ, ealne weġ (“always, perpetually”, literally “all the way, all the while, continuously”), from ealne + weġ (accusative case), equivalent to alway + -s. Cognate with Scots always (“always”), Low German allerwegens (“very often”, literally “all ways'”). More at all, way.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL 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: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A1 · BeginnerOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/always