already

Name: already, English Word Data
Creator: Wiktionary
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

/ɔːlˈɹɛdi/

//ɔːlˈɹɛdi// adv

By PlainSpell Editorial Team · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) · analyzed May 6, 2026

The verdict

“already” is in the everyday core of English, ranked #253 in English word frequency and used as an adverb.

#253
frequency rank, English: 7
letters: 10
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Prior to some specified time, either past, present, or future; by this time; previously.

Key facts for already
Property	Value
Headword	already
Language	English
Part of speech	Adverb
IPA	/ɔːlˈɹɛdi/
Letters	7
Frequency rank	#253
Misspellings tracked	10
Confusable pairs	0
Source	Wiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “already” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). already lands here:

#253

#1#100#1K#10K#100K

← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for already is 7 letters long, classified as an adverb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɔːlˈɹɛdi/. Corpus data places it at rank #253 in overall English word frequency, putting it firmly in the everyday core of the language. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 10 likely wrong-spelling variants for already, with forms such as "alerady", "allready", and "alraedy". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English alredy (“fully; already”), equivalent to al- (“all, completely”) + ready. Cognate with West Frisian alreeds (“already”), Dutch alreeds (“already”), Afrikaans alreeds (“already”), Middle Low German alreide, alreids ("already"; whence mode… The correct English form is already, spelled A-L-R-E-A-D-Y.

Definition

1
Prior to some specified time, either past, present, or future; by this time; previously.
2
So soon.
3
An intensifier used to emphasize impatience or express exasperation.
4
Indicates the completion of an action (whether past or hypothetical), or more generally, perfective aspect.
5
Marks a change in state, more or less in the same manner as the inchoative aspect.

Etymology

From Middle English alredy (“fully; already”), equivalent to al- (“all, completely”) + ready. Cognate with West Frisian alreeds (“already”), Dutch alreeds (“already”), Afrikaans alreeds (“already”), Middle Low German alreide, alreids ("already"; whence modern German Low German alreeds (“already”)), Danish allerede (“already”), Swedish allaredan (“already”), Norwegian Nynorsk allereie (“already”). More at all, ready. The use as an intensifier in American English is a semantic loan from Yiddish שוין (shoyn), attested from 1903. In Singapore English, the use of already as a marker of action completion and change of state is analogous to Hokkien 了 (liáu), Teochew 了 (liao²) and Mandarin 了 (le). Compare Malay (su)dah and Cantonese 咗 (zo²), 喇 (laa³).

This word in other languages

ya(Español)déjà(Français)bereits(Deutsch)já(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: alerady,allready,alraedy,alreaddy,alreadyy,alreayd,alreday,alrready,arleady,laready

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of already - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

Edit distance from "already"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "already"?

"already" is spelled A-L-R-E-A-D-Y. The IPA pronunciation is /ɔːlˈɹɛdi/.

What does "already" mean?

As an adverb, "already" means: Prior to some specified time, either past, present, or future; by this time; previously.

What are common misspellings of "already"?

Common misspellings include "alerady", "allready", "alraedy", "alreaddy", "alreadyy". The correct spelling is "already".

How do you pronounce "already"?

The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "already" is /ɔːlˈɹɛdi/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.

What is the origin of the word "already"?

Is PlainSpell free to use?

Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “already”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

The one correct English spelling is A-L-R-E-A-D-Y - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
Say it as /ɔːlˈɹɛdi/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.