always
gb/ˈɔlwˌeɪz/ us/ˈɔlwˌeɪz/
A1
English
~ 300
Senses
0 senses
adverb
A1
property
1
At all times; on every occasion
Happening at every time or in every situation.
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] always [verb/action]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'always' with 'forever'. 'Always' means at every time something happens, not necessarily for eternity.
Synonyms
constantly (Implies happening continuously without stopping, often over a shorter time span.)
|
perpetually (More formal; emphasizes an unending or unchanging state.)
Antonyms
never (Indicates something does not happen at any time.)
Collocations
always be there
|always remember
|always ready
|always available
|always the same
Themes
daily life
|time
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She always takes a walk after dinner.
- I will always love you.
- He always forgets his keys.
- The store is always open on weekends.
- You can always count on her for help.
Learner examples
- I always eat breakfast.
- He always goes to school.
- We always play on Sunday.
- She always smiles.
- It is always hot in summer.
adverb
A1
property
2
As a rule; habitually
Used when something usually happens the same way.
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] always [verb/action]
Common mistake:
Some learners overuse 'always' when they mean 'often'; 'always' means there are no exceptions.
Synonyms
habitually (More formal; describes repeated behavior as a habit.)
|
regularly (Suggests something occurs at fixed intervals or patterns.)
Antonyms
rarely (Describes something that happens not often.)
Collocations
always happens
|always says
|always does this
|always works
Themes
daily life
|habits
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She always takes the same route to work.
- He always drinks coffee in the morning.
- They always celebrate their anniversary with a trip.
- My phone always runs out of battery by evening.
- We always have dinner together on Fridays.
Learner examples
- I always go to bed at ten.
- She always eats rice for lunch.
- He always wears a hat.
- We always play soccer after school.
- They always watch TV at night.
adverb
A2
property
3
In any case; no matter what
Used when something will happen no matter what else happens.
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] will always [verb/action]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this meaning with a literal time sense; here it's about certainty in all conditions.
Synonyms
regardless (Focuses on not being affected by conditions.)
|
anyway (Informal; used to dismiss other factors.)
Antonyms
sometimes not (Indicates that it does not happen under all conditions.)
Collocations
will always be
|can always rely
|will always have
Themes
daily life
|assurance
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- You will always have my support.
- There will always be challenges to face.
- No matter what, I’ll always stand by you.
- There is always a chance to improve.
- You can always try again.
Learner examples
- I will always help you.
- She will always be my friend.
- We will always remember this day.
- You can always call me.
- There will always be food at home.
Grammar
Dictionary form
always
IPA
GB/ˈɔlwˌeɪz/
US/ˈɔlwˌeɪz/
Syllables & stress
al - ways (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (al)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: always
- Plural: alwayses
Word family
Expressions
always on the go
1/ˈɔlwˌeɪz ˈɔn ðə ɡˈoʊ/
idiom
informal
Constantly busy and active
Always busy and moving from one thing to another.
Examples
- He's always on the go, traveling for work and meeting clients.
- With three kids, she’s always on the go.
always there for someone
1/ˈɔlwˌeɪz ðˈɛɹ fɚ sˈʌmwˌʌn/
fixed phrase
Consistently supportive to someone
To help and support someone every time they need it.
Examples
- My parents are always there for me when I need advice.
- Good friends are those who are always there for you.
as always
1/ˈæz ˈɔlwˌeɪz/
fixed phrase
In the usual way every time
Just like it happens every time before.
Examples
- As always, she arrived early for the meeting.
- The food was delicious, as always.