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already left
/ɔːlˈrɛdi lɛft/
departed earlier than expected
She already left the office by the time I arrived.
She departed earlier than expected before I got there.
neutral
to have departed at an earlier time than now
The train had already left when we reached the station.
The train departed before we arrived at the station.
He said he would come early, but he already left.
He departed earlier than his stated intention.
Used to emphasize that an action (departing) occurred before a reference point in the past or present.
Collocations
already leftused to indicate early departure in past or present contexts
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Common Mistake: Present Perfect vs. Past Simple
Avoid using 'already left' with present perfect tense ('has already left') when the context implies a past action. Use past simple ('left') for completed actions in the past: 'She left already.'
Gold Rule
Emphasis on Timing
Use 'already left' to emphasize that the departure happened earlier than expected or required. It often carries a nuance of surprise or inconvenience.
Word Origin
Combination of the adverb 'already' (from Old English 'ealdor' meaning 'long ago') and the past participle 'left' (past of 'leave'). The phrase emerged in Middle English as a way to emphasize prior completion of an action.
Usage Notes
Commonly used in past contexts to indicate something happened earlier than anticipated. Can also imply surprise or disappointment that someone departed sooner than expected.
Word Breakdown
already
before the present time; by now
adverbleft
past participle of 'leave', meaning to go away from a place
verbEnglish Dictionary