always
AWL-wayz
Always (adv) means At all times; on every occasion, without exception. Example: “She always locks the door before going to bed.”
adv
1
At all times; on every occasion, without exception.
"She always locks the door before going to bed."
"He has always wanted to visit Japan."
"My brother always forgets his umbrella when it looks like rain."
2
As a fallback option, if nothing else works.
"If the flight is cancelled, we can always drive instead."
"If the shop is closed, you can always try the market."
"Don't worry about the tickets, because we can always buy them at the door."
How to use always
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEvery time, with no exceptions — or, in a looser sense, as a backup plan.
Common pairings
always been
almost always
you can always
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Etymology
From Middle English alwayes, from Old English ealne weġ, literally "all the way" — originally meaning "the whole way" or "continuously."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for always
See all rhymes for always →Frequently asked questions
What does “always” mean?
The word “always” means at all times; on every occasion, without exception. In plain terms, every time, with no exceptions — or, in a looser sense, as a backup plan.
How do you pronounce “always”?
“Always” is pronounced AWL-wayz (/ˈɔːl.weɪz/ in IPA).
How do you use “always” in a sentence?
Here is “always” used in a sentence: “She always locks the door before going to bed.”
What is the opposite of “always”?
The opposite of “always” — its antonyms — is never.
What part of speech is “always”?
“Always” is an adverb.
Where does the word “always” come from?
The word “always” comes from Old English. From Middle English alwayes, from Old English ealne weġ, literally "all the way" — originally meaning "the whole way" or "continuously.".
Is “always” a common word?
“Always” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “always” have?
“Always” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: at all times; on every occasion, without exception.
What is the difference between 'always' and 'usually'?
'Always' means every single time, with no exceptions — 'the sun always rises in the east.' 'Usually' means most of the time but not guaranteed — 'I usually walk to work.' 'Always' is absolute, while 'usually' leaves room for exceptions. Confusing the two can overstate how reliable or frequent something really is.
What is the opposite of 'always'?
The direct opposite is 'never,' meaning at no time at all. Words like 'sometimes,' 'occasionally,' and 'rarely' sit between the two extremes, describing partial frequency. So 'always' and 'never' mark the two ends of a scale, with most everyday situations falling somewhere in the middle.
What is an example of 'always'?
'She always locks the door before leaving' means she does it on every occasion, without fail. In speech, people sometimes stretch it for effect — 'you're always late' — to mean 'very often' rather than literally every time. In careful writing, though, 'always' should mean exactly that: at all times.
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