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Already vs Beforehand - What's the difference?

already | beforehand |

As adverbs the difference between already and beforehand

is that already is prior to some specified time, either past, present, or future; by this time; previously while beforehand is at an earlier or preceding time.

As an adjective beforehand is

in comfortable circumstances as regards property; forehanded.

already

English

Adverb

(-)
  • Prior to some specified time, either past, present, or future; by this time; previously.
    • {{quote-Fanny Hill, part=6 , slipping then my cloaths off, I crept under the bed-cloaths, where I found the young stripling already nestled, and the touch of his warm flesh rather pleas'd than alarm'd me.}}
  • * (Arthur Conan Doyle)
    • It was already dusk, and the lamps were just being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, waiting for the coming of its occupant.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-07-20, volume=408, issue=8845, magazine=(The Economist)
    • , title= Welcome to the plastisphere , passage=Plastics are energy-rich substances, which is why many of them burn so readily. Any organism that could unlock and use that energy would do well in the Anthropocene. Terrestrial bacteria and fungi which can manage this trick are already familiar to experts in the field.}}
  • So soon.
  • (US) Influenced by (etyl) An intensifier used to emphasize impatience or express exasperation.

    • Usage notes

    Already may be used with the present perfect (I have already done that''), the past perfect (''I had already done it by then''), the future perfect (''When you arrive, the business will already have been completed'') or the simple future (''When you arrive, the business will already be complete ).

    See also

    * yet

    Statistics

    *

    Anagrams

    * English intensifiers 1000 English basic words

    beforehand

    English

    Adverb

    (-)
  • At an earlier or preceding time.
    • Will it be possible to have access to the room beforehand so that we can set up chairs?

    Antonyms

    * afterwards

    Synonyms

    * in advance

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (obsolete) In comfortable circumstances as regards property; forehanded.
  • * Francis Bacon
    • rich and much beforehand
  • In a state of anticipation or preoccupation; often followed by with .
  • * Milton
    • Agricola resolves to be beforehand with the danger.
  • * Addison
    • The last cited author has been beforehand with me.