Oxford Essential Dictionary
always
adverb
1 at all times; every time:
I have always lived in London.
The train is always late.
2 for ever:
I will always remember that day.
3 again and again:
My sister is always borrowing my clothes!
grammar
Always usually goes before the main verb or after 'is', 'are', 'were', etc.: He always wears those shoes. • Fiona is always late. Always can go at the beginning of a sentence when you are telling somebody to do something: Always stop and look before you cross the road.
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
always
al‧ways S1 W1 /ˈɔːlwəz, ˈɔːlwɪz, -weɪz $ ˈɒːl-/ BrE AmE adverb
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old English; Origin: ealne weg 'all the way']
1. all the time, at all times, or every time:
Always lock your bicycle to something secure.
She’d always assumed that Gabriel was a girl’s name.
He hadn’t always been a butler.
2. for a very long time:
I’ve always wanted to go to Paris.
John’s always been keen on music.
3. for ever:
I’ll always remember that day.
4. if someone or something is always doing something, they do it often, especially in an annoying way:
That woman next door’s always complaining.
5. always assuming/supposing (that) something British English used to say that one important fact has to be accepted as true for something else to happen, be true etc:
We’ll leave on Tuesday – always assuming the car’s repaired by then.
6. as always as is usual or expected:
The truth, as always, is more complicated.
As always, Deborah was the last to arrive.
7. can/could always do something (also there’s always something) spoken used to make a polite suggestion:
You could always try ringing again.
If you can’t get it locally, there’s always the Internet.
8. somebody always was lucky/untidy etc used to say you are not surprised by what someone has done because it is typical of them:
You always were a stubborn creature.
He’s a troublemaker! Always was and always will be!
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ always all the time, at all times, or every time: I will always love you. | He always carries his medicine. | People will always need houses.
▪ forever (also for ever British English) if something lasts or continues forever, it remains or continues for all future time: Nothing lasts forever. | He seemed to think he would live forever.
▪ permanently always, or for a very long time – used about changes that you expect to last forever. Permanently can be used with a verb or with an adjective: His eyesight may be permanently damaged. | They decided to move to Portugal permanently.
▪ for life for the rest of your life: Marriage is supposed to be for life. | He was sent to jail for life. | Remarks like that can affect someone for life.
▪ for good especially spoken forever – used to talk about a permanent change: This time, he’s coming back for good. | Once a species dies out, it is gone for good.
▪ for all time forever – used when saying that something will last or be remembered forever because it is very good or special: Their deeds will be remembered for all time.
▪ to/until your dying day for the rest of your life – used when something has affected you very deeply: I’ll remember what he said to my dying day.
• • •
GRAMMAR
Always usually comes before the verb, unless the verb is a simple tense of ‘be’, or after the first auxiliary:
▪ I always wanted to be an engineer.
▪ He is always cheerful.
▪ Education in Britain has always been considered some of the best in the world.
always, still
Use still, not always, to say that a previous situation has not changed, and is continuing at the time of speaking:
▪ He still lives (NOT always lives) with his parents.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
always
al·ways [ˈɔːlweɪz] [ˈɔːlweɪz] adverb
1. at all times; on every occasion
• There's always somebody at home in the evenings.
• Always lock your car.
• She always arrives at 7.30.
• The children always seem to be hungry.
• We're not always this busy!
2. for a long time; since you can remember
• Pat has always loved gardening.
• This is the way we've always done it.
• This painting is very good— Ellie always was very good at art (= so it is not very surprising).
• Did you always want to be an actor?
3. for all future time
• I'll always love you.
4. if you say a person is always doing sth, or sth is always happening, you mean that they do it, or it happens, very often, and that this is annoying
• She's always criticizing me.
• That phone's always ringing.
• Why are you always complaining about my cooking?
5. can/could always…, there's always… used to suggest a possible course of action
• If it doesn't fit, you can always take it back.
• If he can't help, there's always John.
more at once a…, always a… at once adv.
Idiom: as always
Word Origin:
[always] Middle English: genitive case of all way, the inflection probably giving the sense ‘at every time’ as opposed to ‘at one uninterrupted time’: the difference between the two is no longer distinct.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
always / ˈɔːl.weɪz / / ˈɑːl- / adverb (EVERY TIME)
A1 every time or all the time:
It's always cold in this room.
She always spells my name wrong.
always / ˈɔːl.weɪz / / ˈɑːl- / adverb (FOR EVER)
A2 for ever:
I'll always remember you.
always / ˈɔːl.weɪz / / ˈɑːl- / adverb (UNTIL NOW)
A2 at all times in the past:
I've always liked him.
I always thought I'd have children eventually.
always / ˈɔːl.weɪz / / ˈɑːl- / adverb (POSSIBILITY)
B1 used with 'can' or 'could' to suggest another possibility:
If you miss this train you can always catch the next one.
always / ˈɔːl.weɪz / / ˈɑːl- / adverb (MANY TIMES)
B2 again and again, usually in an annoying way:
[ + -ing verb ] disapproving You're always complain ing .
© Cambridge University Press 2013
Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
always
[ɔ͟ːlweɪz]
♦
1) ADV: ADV before v If you always do something, you do it whenever a particular situation occurs. If you always did something, you did it whenever a particular situation occurred.
Whenever I get into a relationship, I always fall madly in love...
She's always late for everything...
We've always done it this way. In fact, we've never done it any other way...
Always lock your garage.
Ant:
never
2) ADV: ADV before v, ADV group If something is always the case, was always the case, or will always be the case, it is, was, or will be the case all the time, continuously.
We will always remember his generous hospitality...
He has always been the family solicitor...
He was always cheerful.
Ant:
never
3) ADV: ADV before v-cont If you say that something is always happening, especially something which annoys you, you mean that it happens repeatedly.
She was always moving things around.
Syn:
forever
4) ADV: can/could ADV inf You use always in expressions such as can always or could always when you are making suggestions or suggesting an alternative approach or method.
If you can't find any decent apples, you can always try growing them yourself...
`What are you going to do?' - `I don't know. I could always go back in the Navy or something.'
5) ADV: ADV before v You can say that someone always was, for example, awkward or lucky to indicate that you are not surprised about what they are doing or have just done.
She's going to be fine. She always was pretty strong...
You always were a good friend.
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
always
al·ways /ˈɑːlˌweɪz/ adv
1 a : at all times : on every occasion : in a way that does not change
• He always tries, but he doesn't always succeed.
• It's always a pleasure to see you.
• I can always tell when he's upset.
• He's always [=constantly] looking for ways to make money.
• She's almost always smiling.
• This area is always filled with tourists.
• You should always (remember to) wear your seat belt.
• The holidays are always a very busy time for us. = (less commonly) The holidays always are a very busy time for us.
• Things won't always go as planned.
• You're always welcome to stay with us.
- opposite never
b : at all times in the past
• He has always been a good friend to me.
• They didn't always get along so well. [=they get along now, but they didn't like each other in the past]
• It hasn't always been easy for him. [=difficult or sad things have happened to him]
• He could always make me angry. = He always could make me angry. [=he often made me angry]
2 : throughout all time : for a very long time: such as
a : forever into the future
• I'll remember you always. [=forever]
• You'll always be my best friend. = You're my best friend, and you always will be.
• Life won't always be this easy.
b : forever in the past : from the beginning of the time that can be remembered
• I've always loved you.
• I always thought they'd get married some day, but they never did.
• Isn't that what you've always wanted?
• She always wanted to be famous.
• It has always been my goal to have my own business.
• He's always been a firm believer in hard work. = He's a firm believer in hard work, and he always has been.
3 : often, frequently, or repeatedly
• We always tell people not to arrive too early.
• My parents always told me not to speak to strangers.
- often used to describe repeated behavior that is annoying
• She's always calling me by the wrong name.
• Must you always be so rude?!
• He always tells such funny stories. = He's always telling such funny stories.
4
- used to suggest another possibility
• If we don't win today, there's always tomorrow. [=we might win tomorrow]
- usually used after can or could
• If she doesn't answer the phone now, you can/could always try (calling) again later.
• If you don't have enough money now, you can always use your credit card.
as always
- used to say that something was expected because it always happens
• As always, dinner was delicious. [=dinner was delicious, as it always is]
• Your children, as always, were very well-behaved. [=your children were well-behaved, as they always are]