Already vs All Ready
Published January 16, 2023. Updated March 7, 2023.
Already and All ready seems like the same word only spelled differently, right? Wrong. They are actually two unique words with different meanings. Already is an adverb that means before a specified time. All ready is a phrase that means “ready,” as in completely prepared, but adding “all” to give it emphasis.
Here are some definitions and examples to help make the use of these words clearer.
Already (adverb)
Before a specified time.
Examples:
When I got home, my roommate was already asleep.
I’ve already made up my mind about which university I want to go to.
The word already indicates something that happened before a specified time. In the first sentence, there are two actions: I got home, and my roommate was asleep. The action that is attached to already happened first. So, first, my roommate went to sleep, and then I got home. In the second sentence, there is only one action, so already means it happened before now. I made up my mind before now.
All ready (phrase)
It means ready, as in completely prepared, but with emphasis.
Examples:
After the coach’s pep talk, we were all ready to get out there and win!
Our flight leaves in less than two hours! Are you all ready to leave?
In both sentences, you can replace the phrase all ready with just the word “ready,” and the sentences make sense. Adding the word “all” just makes it more emphatic.
Main Points
- Already is an adverb that means before a specified time.
- In a sentence with two actions, the action attached to the word already happens first.
- If a sentence only has one action, already means the action happened before now.
- All ready is a phrase that means the same as “ready,” as in completely prepared, but with emphasis.