already
/ɔːlˈrɛdi
/adverb
1Before or by now or the time in question: Anna has suffered a great deal already...
- Lari was asking for an answer to a question that she already knew the answer to.
- Other deals that are already in the public arena are also picking up steam again.
- Workers have been offered a hefty redundancy package as part of a deal already on the table.
Synonyms
by this/that time, by now/then, thus far, so far, hitherto, before, before now/then, previously, earlier, earlier on, until now/then, up to now/then
rare heretofore
as early as this/that, as soon as this/that, so soon, so early, even now/then
1.1As surprisingly soon or early as this: it was already past four o' clock...
- We already have early proofs back of the first batch of pages and they look good.
- My hair is already past my shoulders and my fringe has reached the tip of my nose.
- The snow whipped past my already red nose, and I looked around for a place for warmth.
2North American informal Used after a word or phrase to express impatience: just stop already, no one feels sorry for you...
- Okay, sure, maybe there's a hint of sour grapes here, but really, please, just stop it already.
- We'll start with a plea for this year to just finish already.
- If you like him so much, just tell him already instead of torturing yourself like this.
Phrases
enough already
Origin
Middle English: from all (as an adverb) + ready; sense 2 is influenced by Yiddish use.
Rhymes
- Flynn, Errol
- fly off the handle
- fly on the wall
- fly orchid
- fly (or drive) by the seat of one's pants
- flyover
- flypaper
- fly-past
- fly-pitcher
- fly-pitching
- fly-post
- fly poster
- fly-poster
- Fly River
- fly rod
- flysch
- flysheet
- flyspeck
- flyspecked
- fly spray
- fly strike
- fly swat
- fly swatter
- fly the coop
- fly the flag