Already means that something has happened by now, or sooner than expected. When your mom calls you for dinner and you say “I already washed my hands,” you're explaining that you completed that task before she asked. When you arrive at school and discover your teacher already handed back yesterday's tests, it means she finished that job earlier than you anticipated.

The word emphasizes timing. It often carries a sense of surprise about how quickly something occurred. If your little brother already knows how to read at age four, that's noteworthy because most children learn later. If you already finished your homework before your friend even started, you got an early jump on it.

People also use already to express impatience or frustration. When someone says “Are we there yet?” for the tenth time and you respond “Stop asking already!” you're signaling that they should have stopped asking some time ago. In this context, the word adds emphasis to how much time has passed or how many times something has happened.

Notice the difference between already and all ready. If everyone is all ready to leave, it means the whole group is prepared. If everyone already left, it means they departed before now.