always

English Online Dictionary. What means always‎? What does always mean?

English

Alternative forms

• alwayes, alwayz, alwayez (obsolete)
• allus (pronunciation spelling)

Etymology

From Middle English alwayes, allwayes, allweyes, a variant of Middle English allwaye, alwey, alle wey (“always”), from Old English ealneġ, ealneweġ (“always, perpetually”, literally “all the way, all the while, continuously”), from ealne + weġ (accusative case), equivalent to alway +‎ -s. Cognate with Scots alwayis (“always”), Low German allerwegens (“very often”, literally “all ways'”). More at all, way.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈɔː(l).weɪz/, /ˈɔːl.wɪz/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈɔl.weɪz/, /ˈɔl.wɪz/, /ˈɔl.wəz/
  • (cot–caught merger) IPA^(key): /ˈɑl.weɪz/, /ˈɑl.wɪz/, /ˈɑl.wəz/
• (Canada) IPA^(key): [ˈɔː(ɫ)we(ɪ)z], [-wɪz], [-wɛs]
• (Southern US) IPA^(key): /ˈɔləs/ (see allus)
• Rhymes: -ɔːlweɪz, -ɔːlwiz, -ɔːlwɪz, -ɔːlwəz, -ɔːweɪz, -ɔɪz
• Hyphenation: al‧ways

Adverb

always (not comparable)

1. At all times; throughout all time; since the beginning.

   Synonyms: perpetually, continually, all the time, every time; see also Thesaurus:forever

   Antonyms: at no time, never; see also Thesaurus:never
2. Constantly during a certain period, or regularly at stated intervals (opposed to sometimes or occasionally).

   Synonyms: invariably, uniformly; see also Thesaurus:uniformly

   Antonyms: manywise, sundrily, variously; see also Thesaurus:diversely
3. (informal) In any event.

   Synonyms: anyhow, anyway, at any rate, regardless; see also Thesaurus:regardless

Usage notes

• Used for both duration and frequency.
• "Always" used with a continuous tense can imply anger or annoyance about another person's persistent habits, for example "My mum is always telling me to tidy me room!".

Antonyms

• never

Derived terms

• alwaysness

Translations

See also

• Thesaurus:frequency

References

Anagrams

• Salway