What does “already” mean?
- 1
adverbbefore now, or earlier than expected
I’ve already finished my homework.
Already at a glance
- Part of speech
- adverb
- CEFR level
- A2 (elementary)
- Pronunciation
- /ɔlˈrɛdi/ · awl-RED-ee
How to use “already” correctly
“Already” is used in positive sentences and questions; in negative sentences use “yet”: “I haven’t finished yet.”
Common phrases with “already”
- already done
- already know
“already” is on these word lists
Learn these words next
- ever adverbA2at any time, used mostly in questions and negative sentences
- finally adverbA2after a long time or a lot of waiting
- once adverbA2one time only
- recently adverbA2not long ago
- still adverbA2continuing until now and not finished
- suddenly adverbA2quickly and without warning
- yet adverbA2until now; used in questions and negatives
- again adverbA1one more time; another time