alwaysal‧ways /ˈɔːlwəz, -weɪz $ ˈɒːl-/ ●●● S1 W1 adverb 
Always lock your bicycle to something secure. She’d always assumed that Gabriel was a girl’s name. He hadn’t always been a butler.2for a very long time: I’ve always wanted to go to Paris. John’s always been keen on music.3for ever: I’ll always remember that day.4if someone or something is always doing something, they do it often, especially in an annoying way: That woman next door’s always complaining.5always assuming/supposing (that) something British English used to say that one important fact has to be accepted as true for something else to happen, be true etc: We’ll leave on Tuesday – always assuming the car’s repaired by then.6as always as is usual or expected: The truth, as always, is more complicated. As always, Deborah was the last to arrive.7can/could always do something (also there’s always something) spoken used to make a polite suggestion: You could always try ringing again. If you can’t get it locally, there’s always the Internet.8somebody always was lucky/untidy etc used to say you are not surprised by what someone has done because it is typical of them: You always were a stubborn creature. He’s a troublemaker! Always was and always will be!GRAMMAR: Word order• Always usually comes before a verb: · I always travel with my girlfriend. ✗Don’t say: Always I travel with my girlfriend.• Always usually comes after the verb ‘be’: · He was always very intelligent.• You sometimes use always before ‘be’ to emphasize that two statements are connected: · Henry did well in his exams. He always was very intelligent.• Always usually comes after the auxiliary: · I have always loved Japan.• You sometimes use always before an auxiliary to emphasize that two statements are connected: · I had a great time in Tokyo. I always have loved Japan.Grammar guide ‒ ADVERBSUSAGE: Always or still?You use still when you want to emphasize that a situation has not changed: · He still lives with his parents. ✗Don’t say: He always lives with his parents.THESAURUSalways all the time, at all times, or every time: · I will always love you.· He always carries his medicine wherever he goes.· People will always need houses.forever (also for ever British English) if something lasts or continues forever, it remains or continues for all future time: · Nothing lasts forever.· He seemed to think he would live forever.permanently always, or for a very long time – used about changes that you expect to last forever. Permanently can be used with a verb or with an adjective: · His eyesight may be permanently damaged.· They decided to move to Portugal permanently.for life for the rest of your life: · Marriage is supposed to be for life.· He was sent to jail for life.· Remarks like that can affect someone for life.for good especially spoken forever – used to talk about a permanent change: · This time, he’s coming back for good.· Once a species dies out, it is gone for good.for all time forever – used when saying that something will last or be remembered forever because it is very good or special: · Their deeds will be remembered for all time.to/until your dying day for the rest of your life – used when something has affected you very deeply: · I’ll remember what he said to my dying day.
WORD ORIGINalways
Origin:
1300-1400 Old English ealne weg ‘all the way’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Grandma had always told us to be careful.
- He's always been very curious.
- He always has sandwiches for his lunch.
- I'll always remember the day we first met.
- I've always admired Sean Connery.
- I always say my prayers before I go to bed.
- Jenna always talks too loud.
- My brother is almost always late.
- My dad's always telling me I should get my hair cut.
- My stupid car is always breaking down!
- Our upstairs neighbor always keeps to himself. We hardly know him at all.
- Ron is always in a bad mood in the morning.
- She said she would always love him.
- She was always ready to listen to my problems.
- Sylvia has always hated her nose.
- The temperature of the lake is always below fifty-five degrees.
- The wind is always blowing there.
- Why do you always blame me for everything?
- Anyway, as elections approached it was not always politically desirable to have a tight monetary policy.
- Because you're always trying to get the better of me.
- If you have any comments or suggestions, please let us know - we always appreciate receiving feedback from Friends.
- Miss Male confessed that she had always wanted to visit the States.
- They almost always taste pretty good but they are not beautiful.
- We always let him and we always will let him.
THESAURUS
all the time, at all times, or every time: · I will always love you.· He always carries his medicine wherever he goes.· People will always need houses.
(also for ever British English) if something lasts or continues forever, it remains or continues for all future time: · Nothing lasts forever.· He seemed to think he would live forever.
always, or for a very long time – used about changes that you expect to last forever. Permanently can be used with a verb or with an adjective: · His eyesight may be permanently damaged.· They decided to move to Portugal permanently.
for the rest of your life: · Marriage is supposed to be for life.· He was sent to jail for life.· Remarks like that can affect someone for life.
especially spoken forever – used to talk about a permanent change: · This time, he’s coming back for good.· Once a species dies out, it is gone for good.
forever – used when saying that something will last or be remembered forever because it is very good or special: · Their deeds will be remembered for all time.
for the rest of your life – used when something has affected you very deeply: · I’ll remember what he said to my dying day.
Longman Language Activatorwhen someone always does something or something always happens · I always say my prayers before I go to bed.· She was always ready to listen to my problems.· Why do you always blame me for everything?· He always has sandwiches for his lunch.· My dad's always telling me I should get my hair cut.almost always · My brother is almost always late.
on every occasion - use this to say that when one thing happens, something else always happens: · My neck hurts every time I turn my head.· Every time we talk about money, we get into an argument.· It seems like every time I play basketball, I get hurt.
every time that something happens: · He calls Nancy whenever he's in town.· Feel free to use my computer whenever you need to.whenever possible (=whenever you can): · I try to use public transport whenever possible.
: every day/week/Monday etc use this to say that something happens regularly on each day, each week etc: · Thousands of tourists visit Spain every year.· We go to the movies almost every Saturday night.· Every year on her birthday, Jackie throws a big party at the Vineyard House.
: every day/week/year etc without fail if you do something without fail you always do it: · My mother goes to church every week without fail.· You must take the medication every day without fail.
happening all the time, without stopping or changing all the time without changing: · The temperature of the lake is always below fifty-five degrees.· Ron is always in a bad mood in the morning.· Our upstairs neighbor always keeps to himself. We hardly know him at all.
· Gabrielle talks about her kids all the time.· The couple upstairs argue all the time.· I don't have to wear my glasses all the time - just for reading.
all the time while something is happening - use this about something annoying or surprising: · He talked about himself the whole time I was with him.· We realized that Duncan had been standing there the whole time.
all the time - used especially in official notices and rules: · Carry your passport with you at all times.· Keep your hotel door locked at all times.
all the time, continuously: · Shelly constantly tries to impress her boss.· She constantly criticizes my cooking.
all the time and never likely to change: · Hardy was permanently banned from professional figure skating.· It's such a dangerous neighborhood that the windows of some stores are permanently barricaded.
: perennial problem/concern/struggle etc one which people are concerned with all the time, and have been concerned with for a long time: · High unemployment rates are a perennial problem in several European countries.· Severe and unpredictable weather is a perennial danger for mountain climbers.
: unfailing support/loyalty/good humour etc support, loyalty etc that you can depend on because it never changes or grows weaker even when there is trouble or difficulty: · I'd like to thank you all for your unfailing love and support.· Peter's unfailing humour made him popular with his fellow workers.
happening or done all the time without stopping, in a way that is very annoying: · Julia became irritated by the child's incessant talking.· The incessant buzz of conversation filled the student cafeteria.
every day for a long time - use this especially to say that someone keeps doing something difficult, tiring, or boring for a long time, or that something keeps happening for a long time: · Henry did the same thing, day in and day out, for over thirty years.· Investigators are working day in, day out to determine the cause of the crash.
spoken said in order to emphasize that something happens all the time, especially something that is annoying: · It seems like we've been going to meetings morning, noon, and night lately.
informal all the time without stopping: · We're here to help you 24/7.· The deadline is next week, so everyone in the office is working 24/7.
during the whole of an event or period of time: all the time (that) · I couldn't really enjoy my holiday because I was sick all the time I was there.· All the time I was talking to him he just sat and stared at the television.
during all of a particular period of time, especially when this is a long time: · Lester was sickly all through his childhood.· Yvonne lived in Switzerland throughout the war.
during all of the day, night, summer etc: · It often rains here all day long.· The music coming from the apartment upstairs kept me awake all night long.
if a particular situation has existed all along , it has existed all the time right from the beginning, although you may not have known about it: · I spent over an hour looking for my keys, and they were in my purse all along.be right all along: · He realized that she'd been right all along.
if an event or something that you do is good, bad etc from start to finish , it is like that from the time it begins until it ends: · It was an awful day at work - problems from start to finish.· The whole thing was a disaster from beginning to end.
when something will always happen or always continue · I'll always remember the day we first met.· She said she would always love him.
if something lasts or continues forever , it remains or continues for all future time: · I'd like to stay here forever.· The memory of that awful day is forever etched in my mind.
a word meaning forever, for a very long time, or for the rest of your life - use this especially to talk about changes that you expect to last forever: · The accident has left Hanson permanently disabled.· Thirteen students were permanently expelled from the school.
for all future time - used especially by children or in children's stories when someone feels extremely happy: · It was a beautiful day, and Ellie wanted it to go on for ever and ever.
if someone leaves, comes back etc for good , they leave or come back permanently: · The injury may keep him out of football for good.· I'd like to stay in Colorado for good.
spoken informal if you have something for keeps , you have it forever: · He's given it to me for keeps.
formal forever, used especially when saying that something will last or be remembered forever because it is very good, special etc: · The actions of those who died in the Great War will be remembered for all time.
for the rest of your life: · There's no such thing as a job for life any more.scarred/maimed/crippled/blind etc for life: · The abuse left him scarred for life.
for the rest of your life - used especially in stories, plays etc: · You will regret this until your dying day.· I will remember your kindness to my dying day.
when something has always happened or always been true · I've always admired Sean Connery.· Sylvia has always hated her nose.
during all the time that you can remember: · The Watsons have lived on our street for as long as I can remember.· The recipe is one that my mom has been making for as long as I can remember.
use this to emphasize that something has always happened or someone has always done something: · The Agaw people have inhabited that region since time immemorial.
remaining or continuing forever continuing forever, for a very long time, or for the rest of your life: · The car accident has caused permanent damage to her eyesight.· Most police departments keep a permanent record of all violent crimes committed in their area.
: eternal life/youth/salvation etc life etc which continues forever: · The possibility of eternal life is a principal belief of many religions.· the search for eternal youth
a word used especially in religious contexts, meaning continuing forever: · life everlasting· the Buddhist's search for everlasting peace
a state or feeling that is perpetual seems to be there all the time and is very annoying, upsetting, worrying etc: · For many working mothers, balancing the demands of children and job is a perpetual challenge.· Her husband's perpetual jealousy strongly affected their marriage.
having no end, or continuing so long that you think it will never end: · To Miguel, the boredom of married life seemed never-ending.· Keeping the house neat and clean is a never-ending battle.
continuing forever and never ending or stopping: · It's difficult to really imagine an infinite universe.· She was a woman of seemingly infinite patience.
too often, in a way that is annoying especially spoken to do something many times, in a way that is annoying: · Dad, Bobby keeps hitting me!· How can I explain if you keep on interrupting me?· I keep forgetting to mail this letter.
if someone or something is always doing something, or someone or something does something all the time , it annoys you because they do it too often: · I'm sick of Harold, he's always telling me what to do.· What do you mean you never see me? You're at my house all the time.· I don't know about you, but I'm always having arguments with people!· He was always trying to persuade me to go out drinking with him.
use this when you are very annoyed because something happens repeatedly over a long period of time: · They seemed to be continually arguing.· I wish you'd clean up your room without having to be constantly reminded.
spoken if someone or something is forever doing something, they annoy you by doing it very often over a long period of time: · He never does his homework on time and is forever getting into trouble at school.· We bought a new washing machine. The old one was forever breaking down.
spoken say this when you are describing something annoying or bad that someone does very often: · Half the time the managers don't know what's going on.· I never know where he is - half the time he doesn't return my phone calls.
use this to say that something has been done many times, especially when this is annoying or does not have any effect: · I've told you time and time again not to play with matches - it's dangerous.· I see people making the same mistakes, time and time again.
if something happens with great regularity , it keeps happening, often in an annoying way: · Yes, the bank keep piling these outrageous charges on my bank account with great regularity.· With great regularity, wasps would fly in through the open window and get trapped behind the glass.
if someone talks about something ad nauseam , they talk about it for so long that it becomes very annoying or boring: · We've discussed this ad nauseam, and I don't see the point of going over the same ground again.· He goes on ad nauseam about how much better everything was in the old days.
in the same way as things usually happen in the same way as things usually happen: · Sam was in a bad mood as usual.· There will be discounts available for students as usual.· As usual, there was far too much food.
British /like always American informal spoken use this to say that something is not surprising because it is what almost always happens: · Jim was the first to arrive, as always.· As ever, her work has been excellent this term.· When he arrived he stank of whiskey and tobacco, like always.
British spoken say this when you are annoyed because something bad that usually happens has just happened again: · I'm in trouble at work, as per usual.· She was three hours late as per usual.· He said he'd phone, but he won't. As per usual!
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY You could always try phoning her at the office. I nearly always go home for lunch.
· I always travel with my girlfriend.
· He was always very intelligent.
· Henry did well in his exams. He always was very intelligent.
· I have always loved Japan.
· I had a great time in Tokyo. I always have loved Japan.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES You could always try phoning her at the office. I nearly always go home for lunch. (=used to thank someone for a present that you really like)· Thanks for the bread machine – it’s just what I’ve always wanted.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSVERB· I have always assumed that Brightside had it right and Dagenham was merely contributing a series of Gouldisms to the discussion.· She has always assumed her regular place on the couch, the special place where the starters sit.· She had always assumed that something would happen, sometime, to sweep away her marital comfort.· I had always assumed teachers' salaries were generous, but Kierra corrects my impression.· Cambridge, which always assumes that anyone who leaves it passes into outer darkness, found the decision incomprehensible.· We have always assumed that animal protein was the necessary kind for human health.
· They did what they always did, and he let them.· It always did, but in the end he would be relieved.· She sat waiting for him, as she always did, hiding in the darkness afforded by the bus shelter.· Yet we do what we always do when confronted with a challenge: Lunge for a quick, easy and cosmetic solution.· He always did us the courtesy of a reply, mind.· When I came into the dining room, everyone looked up and smiled as they always did, and I beamed back.· Her tear ducts were responding as they always did when her emotions bubbled up.· We always do our work with much more energy for several days after a massage or yoga session.
· She'd always felt drawn to him.· In the subtle dynamic of power I always felt that Clarisa had more control-if only because she desired me less.· I always felt I should have been able to protect my mother better but I couldn't.· Whether it's a power lunch or a romantic dinner, a meal at Cicada always feels like a special occasion.· In this house, since commune days, she had always felt shy.· He was also liked by his employees, who always felt Clark had their best interests at heart.· Ever since, she has always felt that she has a tenuous grip upon life.· My mother and father always felt they might have been related.
· Howard's always found him slightly unsettling, it's true.· Other researchers can always find a correlation weight and early death because fewer heavy people than slender people exercise, he says.· He takes his belt to him - I try to hide him sometimes, but he always finds him in the end.· You could always find something entertaining to do around Morrisonville.· I have always found it a great advantage to loathe my political opponents.· Writers had not always found Black Mountain particularly fertile ground.· I always find art galleries and museums hungry work, though.· Annes in 1979, he hit only two fairways yet almost always found his ball sitting kindly.
· Our dog is our constant walking companion and is always kept on a lead.· Hence Phoenix always keeps at least two of its garbage districts in public hands-so it will always have the capacity to compete.· This continues to happen back and forth, always keeping the momentum total zero.· Jennifer always kept busy playing different sports.· And her parents' small hotel had always kept them comfortable, rather than wealthy.· Both Phobos and Deimos always keep the same side toward Mars.· The room, with its unusual decor and accoutrements, was always kept locked.· But my mother always kept this house.
· It was uncanny the way that he always knew when he reached the pew.· Everybody knew, my folks always knew.· Lisa always knew she did not really want her baby adapted, and before she was even born had decided against it.· Somehow Lang always knew when I would be coming to town.· She was to say that she always knew his moods.· At Exeter, Fred found himself surrounded by the same relaxed wealth he had always known.· This method also makes it easier to plot the location of finds since one's exact position is always known.
· I've got a couple of guys who I always like to go with.· Paquita and I had always liked each other, but I knew she would have preferred me to be more conventional.· I always like to be well-dressed.· See has always liked to buy direct from California farmers.· In fact, he'd always liked the house better when Dale wasn't in it.· I always liked to go with what I wanted to do.· He always liked it when she wore a certain shade of lipstick, coral, not cherry.· A: I always liked to draw.
· Sean had always looked around him when he went into people's houses.· Wants to know about his work, his views, everything. Always looking out for him at the Press Center.· However, that process is continually evolving and we are always looking for suggestions to aid its development.· Even Aristotle complained that communal property always looked worse than private lands.· Pictures which share a common theme always look good when hung together.· I thought he was a horse trainer, perhaps. Always looked happy, always looked easy.· They always look back to the old smokestack industries.· He has always looked for one more megaphone.
· The monarchy, therefore, has always seemed a bit inappropriate.· They always seem intent on involvement in the situation and find pleasure and enjoyment in analyzing relationships of others.· Before this the teachers always seemed to be there for me.· He always seemed to be ringing from a callbox, on grounds that the walls in his office had ears.· The Lockharts' house always seemed to me to smell of the 1930s.· Anglers always seem to carry large amounts of equipment.· Through the night in the tossing chest she listened to the waters that seemed always about to wash over them.
· He was always telling her how pretty she was, how well she ran Riverstown.· You always told me how open the man is.· Keith: Yeah - they always tell you what to do.· And I think, this is why I married him; he always tells me to do it.· He didn't say anything, but Cara could always tell.· There are two stories they always tell together.· Dad was always telling her off about that, about how it cracked the shoe leather and led to big repairs.· Mother is always telling me to comb my hair because I look terrible.
· He's quite good-looking in a film-starry way - I'd always thought of him as young.· I have always thought pneumonia was the root of it all, contracted during that six-day match in the bitter cold.· She always thinks that she knows best.· I always thought reality. was pretty weird.· When I was younger, I always thought it looked like money for jam.· I always thought that I would get more done in one day than it was possible to do.· We always thought we'd leave, I suppose.· Gee, and I always thought we had the chores fairly well divided.
· That was my dad - always trying to keep up with things.· I always try to conduct myself reasonably in public.· To be honest I think he has an over-active gland, always trying to inveigle his way into my bed.· He was always trying to learn something.· She was always trying to turn it into something it wasn't.· I think how Ted, Charles, and I always tried to go back every August.· Miss Hinkle was always trying to make me an office magnate, dictating letters and answering telephone calls.· Opposition forces have constantly rebelled and tried to kill the leader, and he has always tried to obliterate them.
· When we were lads Walton's doorway was where we always used to stand and watch the world go by.· You could always use your thumb on the trigger.· We always used to say the guys on the Ridge were lucky, the stork brought their babies.· Disulfiram should be used always as part of a comprehensive treatment program.· If in any doubt, consult an electrician. Always use a circuit breaker for added safety.· You can always use hypothetical situations.· I tried astronomy-I had always used the stars as a kid to get away.
· I had always wanted to discover as much as I could about the people I met and I was especially interested now.· It's what I've always wanted from the bottom of my heart...· When my husband comes home he always wants to make love but I don't.· Is it the sad reciprocity of love that you always want what you think you are giving?· Of course I'd seen pictures and I've always wanted a guitar like that.· A place for adults where kids always wanted to go.· It's particularly nice when you can get people together who've always wanted to meet.· White recruited George to play at Illinois, then left, and George has always wanted to play for White.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► can/could always do something► somebody always was lucky/untidy etc► always assuming/supposing (that) something► as always
1all the time, at all times, or every time: Always lock your bicycle to something secure. She’d always assumed that Gabriel was a girl’s name. He hadn’t always been a butler.2for a very long time: I’ve always wanted to go to Paris. John’s always been keen on music.3for ever: I’ll always remember that day.4if someone or something is always doing something, they do it often, especially in an annoying way: That woman next door’s always complaining.5always assuming/supposing (that) something British English used to say that one important fact has to be accepted as true for something else to happen, be true etc: We’ll leave on Tuesday – always assuming the car’s repaired by then.6as always as is usual or expected: The truth, as always, is more complicated. As always, Deborah was the last to arrive.7can/could always do something (also there’s always something) spoken used to make a polite suggestion: You could always try ringing again. If you can’t get it locally, there’s always the Internet.8somebody always was lucky/untidy etc used to say you are not surprised by what someone has done because it is typical of them: You always were a stubborn creature. He’s a troublemaker! Always was and always will be!GRAMMAR: Word order• Always usually comes before a verb: · I always travel with my girlfriend. ✗Don’t say: Always I travel with my girlfriend.• Always usually comes after the verb ‘be’: · He was always very intelligent.• You sometimes use always before ‘be’ to emphasize that two statements are connected: · Henry did well in his exams. He always was very intelligent.• Always usually comes after the auxiliary: · I have always loved Japan.• You sometimes use always before an auxiliary to emphasize that two statements are connected: · I had a great time in Tokyo. I always have loved Japan.Grammar guide ‒ ADVERBSUSAGE: Always or still?You use still when you want to emphasize that a situation has not changed: · He still lives with his parents. ✗Don’t say: He always lives with his parents.THESAURUSalways all the time, at all times, or every time: · I will always love you.· He always carries his medicine wherever he goes.· People will always need houses.forever (also for ever British English) if something lasts or continues forever, it remains or continues for all future time: · Nothing lasts forever.· He seemed to think he would live forever.permanently always, or for a very long time – used about changes that you expect to last forever. Permanently can be used with a verb or with an adjective: · His eyesight may be permanently damaged.· They decided to move to Portugal permanently.for life for the rest of your life: · Marriage is supposed to be for life.· He was sent to jail for life.· Remarks like that can affect someone for life.for good especially spoken forever – used to talk about a permanent change: · This time, he’s coming back for good.· Once a species dies out, it is gone for good.for all time forever – used when saying that something will last or be remembered forever because it is very good or special: · Their deeds will be remembered for all time.to/until your dying day for the rest of your life – used when something has affected you very deeply: · I’ll remember what he said to my dying day.