already
pronunciation
How to pronounce already in British English:
UK [ɔːlˈredi]
How to pronounce already in American English:
US [ɔːlˈredi]
-
- Adverb:
- prior to a specified or implied time
Word Origin
- already (adv.)
- c. 1300, compound of all + ready (adj.); literally "fully ready." Compare Norwegian, Danish allerede "already." Colloquial use in U.S. as a terminal emphatic (as in enough, already!) is attested from 1903, translating Yiddish shoyn, which is used in same sense. The pattern also is attested in Pennsylvania German and in South African.
Synonym
Antonym
Example
- 1. Plenty of music is already delivered this way .
- 2. The necessary technology already exists .
- 3. Advertising has already done so .
- 4. The alliances are already being struck .
- 5. Others are too far gone already .