# always

> English word · Adverb · IPA /ˈɔːl.weɪz/ · frequency rank #167

## Definitions
1. At all times; throughout all time; since the beginning.
2. Constantly during a certain period, or regularly at stated intervals (opposed to sometimes or occasionally).
3. if necessary, or if there is no better option; in any event.

## Etymology
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-der.?
Proto-Indo-European *h₂elnós
Proto-Germanic *allaz
Proto-West Germanic *all
Old English eall
Proto-Indo-European *weǵʰ-der.
Proto-Germanic *wegaz
Proto-West Germanic *weg
Old English weġ
Old English ealneġ
Middle English alwey
Proto-Germanic *-as
Proto-West Germanic *-as
Old English -es
Middle English -es
Middle English alweyes
English always
From Middle English alweyes, alwayes, alweys, a variant of Middle English alwey, alway (“always”), from Old English ealneġ, ealne weġ (“always, perpetually”, literally “all the way, all the while, continuously”), from ealne + weġ (accusative case), equivalent to alway + -s. Cognate with Scots always (“always”), Low German allerwegens (“very often”, literally “all ways'”). More at all, way.

## Easily confused with
- **away** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/always-vs-away)
- **aways** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/always-vs-aways)
- **arrays** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/always-vs-arrays)
- **anyways** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/always-vs-anyways)
- **alas** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alas-vs-always)
- **alias** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alias-vs-always)
- **allay** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/allay-vs-always)
- **alway** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alway-vs-always)
- **alleys** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alleys-vs-always)

## Common misspellings (9)
`alawys`, `allways`, `alwasy`, `alwayss`, `alwayys`, `alwways`, `alwyas`, `awlays`, `laways`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/always