Word.ws English Dictionary

How to use already in a sentence

40 example sentences · adverb

Already means prior to some specified time, either past, present, or future; by this time; previously. Example: “I was surprised that she hadn’t already told me the news.”

Examples of already by meaning

adverbPrior to some specified time, either past, present, or future; by this time; previously.

  • I was surprised that she hadn’t already told me the news.
  • Much of what he said I knew already.
  • I still haven't seen that movie. I hope you haven't already seen it either.

adverbSo soon.

  • Are you quitting already?

adverbAn intensifier used to emphasize impatience or express exasperation.

  • I wish they'd finish already, so we can get going.
  • Be quiet already!
  • Enough already with the lack of glamour!1988 June 24, Liz Smith, Toledo Blade, Toledo, Ohio, page P-5

adverbIndicates the completion of an action (whether past or hypothetical), or more generally, perfective aspect.

  • You frame the picture for me already anot?
  • “Yah, I sign already,” my mother replied.1999, Alfian Sa'at, Corridor, Singapore: SNP Editions, →OCLC, page 136

adverbMarks a change in state, more or less in the same manner as the inchoative aspect.

  • I don’t think he can take it already.
  • Your ice cream is melting already.
  • Overcook already, need to redo.

More sentences with already

  • The bird that make a lot of noise one is gone already.From the entry one
  • Since the decision has already been made, I see little point in further discussion.From the entry point
  • Ask him that he tell her —No need to, she'll already know by know.From the entry ask
  • Has your girlfriend written you another letter already? She’s quite a writer!From the entry writer
  • At your age, your mom and I'd already found a job.From the entry age
  • Two drivers have already gone into the pit this early in the race.From the entry pit
  • You may not move a piece to a square already occupied by one of your own pieces.From the entry square
  • I'm still much too young to drive, and my grandpa is already far too old.From the entry too
  • I already have a son, so I would like to have a daughter.From the entry daughter
  • Mine for only a week so far, it already feels like an old friend.From the entry mine
  • I rushed to get to class on time, but the lesson had already begun.From the entry begin
  • It's already 5:30? My watch must have lost a few minutes.From the entry lose
  • Where Susy has trouble coloring inside the lines, Johnny has already mastered shading.From the entry where
  • Is it 12 o’clock already? Then it’s time for me to leave.From the entry then
  • It might interest you to learn that others have already tried that approach.From the entry interest
  • They piled their goods on the donkey's back, heavying up an already backbreaking load.From the entry heavy
  • You can't have any more. You'll have to content yourself with what you already have.From the entry content
  • I've already taken three pills, but they don't seem to help my headache.From the entry help
  • I already copped to the murder. What else do you want from me?From the entry cop
  • I returned to resume my place but my assistant had already annexed my chair.From the entry annex
  • Will you come to dinner with us tonight? Can't; already have plans this evening.From the entry can't
  • Thanks to a bureaucratic fait accompli, the demolition was already approved and has already started.From the entry fait accompli
  • This is an advanced prototype, it already has most of the features the final product will have.From the entry advanced
  • I just coloured my hair and already my roots are showing.From the entry roots
  • Already late for work, I shovelled breakfast into my mouth as fast as possible.From the entry shovel
  • Refusing to apologise, I stormed out the room. I'm regretting doing such a stupid thing already.From the entry -ing
  • You can’t have any more soup – you’ve had three bowls already.From the entry bowl
  • That kid just spawned and looks like he's already done with life.From the entry spawn

Meaning of already

  1. adverb Prior to some specified time, either past, present, or future; by this time; previously.
  2. adverb So soon.
  3. adverb An intensifier used to emphasize impatience or express exasperation.

Full definition of already

Questions about already in a sentence

How do you use already in a sentence?
Already is used as an adverb. For example: “I was surprised that she hadn’t already told me the news.”
What is a short sentence with already?
“Be quiet already!”
What does already mean?
Already means prior to some specified time, either past, present, or future; by this time; previously.

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: already (page history and authors) and the entries each sentence comes from. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws chose the sentences, left out offensive ones and quotations older than 1900, and marked the word in each. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

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Cite this page: “How to use already in a sentence.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/sentences/already. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.