already booked

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "already booked" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a reservation or appointment has been made in advance and is no longer available for others. Example: "I'm sorry, but that hotel is already booked for the weekend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

b) Already booked cargo (the term 'booked' is used instead of 'contracted' to cover booking of 'non-contracted' cargoes).

Journal of Shipping and Trade

It was already booked.

The New York Times

I've already booked my flights.

The New York Times

"We've already booked them for next year".

The New York Times

And the flights were already booked.

The Guardian - Travel

And some of the grounds were already booked.

The Economist

It is already booked out for every sitting in 2008.

Independent

A. We have 200-plus events already booked.

The New York Times

Both clubs have already booked their victory parades.

Independent

Q I've already booked the family summer holiday.

Independent

Turkey has already booked its place in Europe.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "already booked" to clearly and concisely indicate that a particular time slot, resource, or service is no longer available due to a prior reservation. It avoids ambiguity and is easily understood.

Common error

Avoid using "already booked" when you simply mean something is unavailable for a different reason (e.g., maintenance, closure). Ensure it's specifically because someone else has reserved it. For instance, don't say "the room is already booked for maintenance"; instead, say "the room is unavailable due to maintenance".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "already booked" functions as a modifier, specifically a past participle phrase acting as an adjective. It describes a noun (like 'room', 'flight', or 'service') by indicating its state of being reserved in advance. Ludwig AI provides numerous examples demonstrating its usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

19%

Formal & Business

19%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "already booked" is a common and grammatically correct way to indicate that something has been reserved in advance and is therefore unavailable. Ludwig AI analysis confirms this, providing numerous real-world examples from reputable sources such as The New York Times, The Guardian, and Forbes. It's versatile and suitable for neutral contexts. Related phrases include "fully reserved" and "completely booked", offering alternative ways to express the same idea. When using the phrase, ensure that the unavailability is specifically due to a prior reservation, avoiding misuse in situations where other factors (e.g., maintenance) are the cause.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fully reserved

Highlights that all available slots or spaces have been taken.

completely booked

Similar to "fully reserved", but emphasizes the totality of the reservation.

previously scheduled

Focuses on the scheduling aspect, emphasizing that the event or appointment was arranged earlier.

all slots are taken

Emphasizes that there are no more available slots.

unavailable for booking

A more formal way of saying that something cannot be booked.

reservations are closed

Indicates that no further reservations can be made.

no availability

Directly states the lack of available openings.

dates are unavailable

Specific to date-related bookings, clarifying that those dates cannot be booked.

sold out

Commonly used for events or tickets, indicating that all have been purchased.

pre-arranged

Highlights the arrangement aspect, suggesting it was set up beforehand.

FAQs

What does "already booked" mean?

"Already booked" means that a particular service, resource, or time slot has been reserved in advance and is therefore unavailable for others to use.

How to use "already booked" in a sentence?

You can use "already booked" in a sentence like: "I'm sorry, that room is "already booked" for the conference".

What can I say instead of "already booked"?

You can use alternatives like "fully reserved", "completely booked", or "no availability" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say 'it's booked already' instead of "already booked"?

While 'it's booked already' is understandable, ""already booked"" is more grammatically standard and commonly used. It sounds more natural in many contexts.