by this or that time; previously; prior to or at some specified or implied time: When we came in, we found they had already arrived.
now; so soon; so early: Is it noon already?
Informal. (used as an intensifier to express exasperation or impatience): Let's go already!
Origin of already
1350–1400; Middle English al redy “all ready”; what originally meant “completely (all) ready” and modified the subject (The porter all ready was there) was taken adverbially as modifying the predicate (The porter already was there, meaning “from an earlier time”)
words often confused with already
Although already and all ready are often indistinguishable in speech, the written forms have distinct meanings and uses. The phrase all ready means “entirely ready” or “prepared” ( I was all ready to leave on vacation ). Already means “previously” ( The plane had already left the airport ) or “so soon” ( Is it lunchtime already? ).