always
always — adverb
1. on each occasion, or during the whole time being talked about.
on each occasion, or during the whole time being talked about.
Nina always locks the back door before she goes to bed.
always + main verb in a habit
The upstairs hall is always dark after the children sleep.
be always + adjective
On market days, the village square is always full by noon.
My phone always rings during dinner when Aunt May calls.
The baby always smiles at the fish tank lights.
- always lock the door
- always dark
- always full
- always rings during dinner
- every time
emphasizes separate occasions more clearly
- constantly
stronger when something seems to have no break
- invariably
more formal and stresses no exceptions
Grammar Patterns
always + main verb
be always + adjective
always + verb + time phrase
Usage Note
Usually comes before the main verb and after 'be'. Distinguish from sense 5 ANNOYINGLY OFTEN, which often uses the progressive and adds irritation.
Common Mistakes
2. for the whole future, without ever ending.
for the whole future, without ever ending.
In her note, Eva wrote that she would love him always.
would + verb + always for lasting feeling
The names on the bridge will stay there always.
always at clause end
After that summer, Luca said he would remember the lake always.
Mara kept her mother's ring and promised to wear it always.
- will always love
- always remember
- always stay there
- wear it always
- forever
the usual everyday alternative
- eternally
more literary and stronger in tone
- permanently
focuses on lasting change rather than emotion
- temporarily
describes something that lasts only for a limited time
- for a while
suggests a period with an end
Grammar Patterns
will + always + verb
would + verb + always
verb + object + always
Usage Note
Often appears at the end of the clause, especially in emotional promises, memories, and formal-sounding statements. In ordinary conversation, 'forever' is often the more neutral alternative.
Common Mistakes
3. from earlier in life up to now, with no break in between.
from earlier in life up to now, with no break in between.
My grandparents have always grown oranges behind the house.
have always + past participle
Rita has always wanted a red bicycle with a basket.
Since primary school, Ben has always trusted his art teacher.
I had always believed the old well was deeper.
had always + past participle
Our street has always flooded after heavy summer rain.
- have always known
- have always wanted
- had always believed
- has always trusted
- all along
often appears when looking back on a continuing fact
- for years
names a long period directly, but not every long period is still true now
- ever since
needs a starting point such as 'ever since high school'
Grammar Patterns
have always + past participle
has always + verb
had always + past participle
Usage Note
Common with the present perfect or past perfect when a feeling, belief, or situation began in the past and still matters at the time being described. Distinguish from sense 1 EVERY TIME, which can describe a regular habit without focusing on the past-to-now span.
Common Mistakes
4. after can or could, used to offer a different action someone may take.
after can or could, used to offer a different action someone may take.
If the bus is late, we can always walk from the station.
can always + verb as backup plan
You could always ask Ms. Lin for a quieter desk.
could always + verb for suggestion
If tonight feels crowded, we can always meet tomorrow morning.
Leo could always send the file after soccer practice.
- can always ask
- can always call
- could always wait
- can always try
- instead
suggests a different choice, but sounds less reassuring
- alternatively
more formal and common in careful speech or writing
- as a backup
makes the plan-B idea very explicit
Grammar Patterns
can always + verb
could always + verb
if ..., can always ...
Usage Note
Usually follows can or could and introduces a practical backup plan, not a repeated action. The tone is often reassuring, helpful, or gently persuasive.
Common Mistakes
5. used to say something happens so often that it bothers the speaker.
used to say something happens so often that it bothers the speaker.
Mr. Clark is always losing his glasses in the kitchen.
be always + -ing for annoyance
That printer is always jamming before our Monday staff meeting.
My little brother is always borrowing my charger without asking.
The upstairs tap was always dripping when I tried to sleep.
Why are you always leaving wet towels on the floor?
question with always + -ing complaint
- always complaining
- always losing things
- always ringing
- always borrowing my charger
- constantly
can also show repeated action, but may sound less emotional
- forever
informal exaggeration often heard in complaints
- continually
more formal and not always negative
- occasionally
shows the action happens only from time to time
- once in a while
an informal way to say it happens only sometimes
Grammar Patterns
be always + -ing
always + happening
why are you always + -ing?
Usage Note
Common with the progressive, especially 'be always + -ing', when the speaker is irritated. Distinguish from sense 1 EVERY TIME, which is neutral and does not itself sound like a complaint.
Common Mistakes
as always
idiomIn the same way that usually happens or is expected.
As always, Maya arrived early to help set up.
The train was late, as always, so we waited.
once a…, always a…
idiomUsed to say that a person's basic nature or identity never changes.
Once a teacher, always a teacher; she still tutors kids.
Once a runner, always a runner; Diego jogs every morning.
Synonym discussion
Sense: adverb/1
'Always' in sense 1 means that something happens on every occasion or lasts through the whole time. 'Every time' is closer when you want to show separate repeated events: 'Every time I call, Ben is out.' 'Constantly' is stronger and suggests almost no break, so it often fits complaints. 'Invariably' is more formal and stresses that the result never changes: 'The shop invariably closes at six.' 'Usually' is weaker because it allows exceptions. So 'Nina always locks the gate' means she does it each time, while 'Nina usually locks the gate' leaves room for the few times when she does not.
Etymology
'Always' grew out of an older expression that meant roughly 'all the way'. In Middle English, forms such as 'alwey' and 'alwayes' developed the sense of something happening at every time or without a break. Modern English keeps both ideas, so the word can describe repeated events, continuing states, or lasting feelings.