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already

al·read·y [ awl réddee, áwl redee ] CORE MEANING: an adverb indicating that something has happened before now, happened in the past before a particular time, or will have happened by or before a particular time in the future

I already know what you're going to say.

She had already left when I arrived.

adverb

Definition:

1. unexpectedly early: by or at an earlier time than expected

Have you finished already?

2. used to give emphasis: used after a command, exclamation, or other statement to give it emphasis or express exasperation ( informal )

Enough already!

[14th century. <all ready "completely ready"]

Word Usage


	already or all ready? These words do not mean the same thing, and so they are not interchangeable. Already, an adverb, means "by or at an earlier time than expected," as in Have they already [not all ready] left?All ready means "all or totally prepared," as in Is everything all ready [not already] for tomorrow?