What does "always" mean?

1. (at all times) every time or all the time. 2. (repeatedly) happening very often or all the time, sometimes in an annoying way. 3. (as a backup option) you use this to suggest a plan if other things do not work.

always

Q: Is it correct to say "I always am happy."?

No — say "I am always happy.". Frequency adverbs like 'always' must follow the verb 'to be', even though they precede most other verbs.

US //ˈɔɫˌweɪz// UK //ˈɔːlweɪz// al·ways

1 at all times (adv.)
A1 Beginner

every time or all the time.

at all times; on every occasion without exception.

Example

The sun always rises in the east every morning.

Example

The legal department always reviews the contracts before they are sent to the client to ensure full compliance with local regulations.
- never
2 repeatedly (adv.)
A2 Elementary

happening very often or all the time, sometimes in an annoying way.

occurring with great frequency or persistence, often used with continuous tenses to express habit or irritation.

Example

He is always losing his keys right when we need to leave.

Example

The neighbours are always complaining about the noise, even when we are just having a quiet dinner on the patio.
- continually
- persistently
- seldom
- rarely

Show 1 more senseShow fewer

3 as a backup option (adv.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

you use this to suggest a plan if other things do not work.

used to suggest a course of action that remains available if other options fail.

Example

If the restaurant is full, we can always just order a pizza.

Example

While the primary strategy is to sell the assets, we can always apply for a short-term loan if the market remains stagnant.

Teacher's tip

This sense is common in spoken English when making suggestions or offering solutions.
- anyway
- at least

Origin

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.

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.