always

Meanings

1. 1
   adv

   at any time or in any event

   you can always resign if you don't like it

2. 2
   adv

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

   God is always the same.

3. 3
   adv

   Constantly during a certain period, or regularly at stated intervals (opposed to sometimes or occasionally).

   In this street, the shops always close during lunchtime.

4. 4
   adv

   if necessary, or if there is no better option; in any event.

   I thought I could always go back to work.

5. 5
   adv

   at all times

6. 6
   adv

   forever

7. 7
   adv

   without interruption

8. 8
   adv

   without variation or change, in every case

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-der.? Proto-Indo-European *h₂elnós Proto-Germanic *allaz Proto-West Germanic *all Old English eall Proto-Indo-European *weǵʰ-der. Proto-Germanic *wegaz Proto-West Germanic *weg Old English weġ Old English ealneġ Middle English alwey Proto-Germanic *-as Proto-West Germanic *-as Old English -es Middle English -es Middle English alweyes English always From Middle English alweyes, alwayes, alweys, a variant of Middle English alwey, alway (“always”), from Old English ealneġ, ealne weġ (“always, perpetually”, literally “all the way, all the while, continuousl…