What does already mean?
"Already" is an adverb of time indicating that something has happened, been done, or reached a certain state before the present moment or before another reference point. It appears constantly in everyday speech and writing: "I have already finished my homework," or "By the time we arrived, the show had already begun." Beyond its neutral temporal sense, "already" often carries a note of surprise or impatience, as in "Is it five o'clock already?", where the speaker registers that time has passed more quickly than anticipated. The word derives from the fusion of "all" and "ready," a combination that took hold in late Middle English and has remained stable ever since. In American colloquial usage, particularly under Yiddish influence, "already" can be placed at the end of a sentence for emphatic effect, as in "Will you hurry up already?" Versatile and nearly indispensable, "already" lets speakers situate events precisely on a timeline with a single word.
adverbBefore or by this time; sooner than expected. Used to indicate that something has happened or been done prior to the moment being discussed.
- Indicating that something has happened or been done by or before a specified time: 'I have already eaten.'
- Expressing surprise or impatience that something has occurred sooner than expected: 'Is it midnight already?'
"She had already left when I arrived at the station."
"The train had already departed when we reached the platform."
"You're home already? I wasn't expecting you until tomorrow."
Despite looking like it should mean 'in an all-ready state,' "already" is really just "all" + "ready" fused together centuries ago — one of English's oldest compound adverbs still going strong.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of already
"Already" originated in late Middle English as a fusion of the words "all" and "ready," first appearing around the fifteenth century. The compound originally meant "completely ready" or "fully prepared," but over time its meaning shifted toward the temporal sense of "by now" or "before this time." It shares its roots with other "all-" compounds such as "although" (from "all" + "though") and "almost" (from "all" + "most").
How already is actually used
Common in both formal and informal registers. In American English, sentence-final "already" (e.g. "Enough already!") is a colloquialism borrowed from Yiddish and carries an impatient tone.
Easily confused with already
"Already" is an adverb meaning before now, while "all ready" is a phrase meaning completely prepared; in American English "all ready" is often written as one word "allready" only in error.