already

already — 1. As an adverb (I have already paid), already is spelt as one word, and is not to be confused with the two separate words all ready (We are all ready to start now). 2. Already is sometimes used in AmE and other varieties, and informally in BrE… …   Modern English usage

Already — Al*read y, adv. [All (OE. al) + ready.] Prior to some specified time, either past, present, or future; by this time; previously. Joseph was in Egypt already. Exod. i. 5. [1913 Webster] I say unto you, that Elias is come already. Matt. xvii. 12.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

already — c.1300, compound of ALL (Cf. all) + READY (Cf. ready), lit. fully ready. Cf. Norw., Dan. allerede already. Colloquial use in U.S. as a terminal emphatic (e.g. enough, already!) is attested from 1903, translating Yiddish shoyn, which is used in… …   Etymology dictionary

already — [ôl red′ē] adv. 1. by or before the given or implied time 2. even now or even then [already two days late]: Also used informally after a phr. to express impatience [ that s enough already!] …   English World dictionary

already — [adv] before expected time as of now, at present, before, before now, but now, by now, by that time, by then, by the time mentioned, by this time, earlier, even now, formerly, heretofore, in the past, just now, now, once, previously, then, up to… …   New thesaurus

already — ► ADVERB 1) before the time in question. 2) as surprisingly soon or early as this …   English terms dictionary

already — [[t]ɔ͟ːlre̱di[/t]] ♦ 1) ADV: ADV before v, cl ADV You use already to show that something has happened, or that something had happened before the moment you are referring to. Speakers of British English use already with a verb in a perfect tense,… …   English dictionary

already — al|read|y [ ɔl redi ] adverb *** 1. ) before now used for saying that something has happened before now or before another point in time: He s only 24, but he s already achieved worldwide fame. The gang leader had already left the country. Put… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

already */*/*/ — UK [ɔːlˈredɪ] / US [ɔlˈredɪ] adverb 1) before now used for saying that something has happened before now or before another point in time He s only 24, but he s already achieved worldwide fame. The gang leader had already left the country. Put… …   English dictionary

already — /awl red ee/, adv. 1. by this or that time; previously; prior to or at some specified or implied time: When we came in, we found they had already arrived. 2. now; so soon; so early: Is it noon already? 3. Informal. (used as an intensifier to… …   Universalium

already — al|read|y W1S1 [o:lˈredi US o:l ] adv [Date: 1300 1400; Origin: all ready completely ready ] 1.) before now, or before a particular time ▪ The design of the new house is similar to those that have already been built. ▪ The performance had already …   Dictionary of contemporary English