already happened

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "already happened" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that an event or action has occurred prior to the present moment. Example: "The deadline for submissions has already happened, so we cannot accept any more entries."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

That has already happened.

The Economist

This has already happened.

The Economist

… It has already happened".

The New York Times

And that's already happened".

The New Yorker

But it has already happened.

Independent

The worst has already happened".

The New Yorker

Has the worst already happened?

The New York Times

But that has already happened.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

(Already happening).

The New York Times

That is already happening.

The New York Times

It is already happening.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "already happened" to clearly indicate that an event has concluded prior to the current discussion. This helps avoid confusion about the timeline of events.

Common error

Avoid using "already happened" when referring to future events. This phrase specifically refers to completed actions in the past. For future events, use phrases like "will happen" or "is going to happen".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "already happened" functions as a verb phrase indicating the past perfective aspect. It signifies that an event or action has been completed before the current moment being referenced. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

87%

Academia

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "already happened" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to denote that an event has concluded prior to the present moment. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, and it appears predominantly in news and media contexts. While versatile, it's essential to maintain tense agreement and use it accurately to avoid confusion. Consider alternatives like "has occurred" or "has taken place" for a more formal tone. The phrase is useful for establishing timelines and providing context. With a strong expert rating, it's a reliable choice for expressing completed actions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has occurred

Uses a more formal word choice for "happened", implying a more significant event.

has taken place

A more formal alternative, suitable for official or serious contexts.

has transpired

Replaces "happened" with a more formal synonym, indicating an event has occurred.

has come to pass

Emphasizes the fulfillment or realization of an event.

is in the books

Implies that an event is officially recorded and completed.

is a thing of the past

Highlights that the event is now finished and belongs to history.

is long gone

Emphasizes the event occurred in the distant past and is no longer present.

is water under the bridge

Indicates the event is over and should not be worried about anymore.

is ancient history

Suggests the event happened a long time ago and is no longer relevant.

is done and dusted

An informal way of saying something is completely finished.

FAQs

How can I use "already happened" in a sentence?

Use "already happened" to indicate that something has occurred before the present moment. For instance, "The meeting you're asking about has "already happened"".

What's a more formal way to say "already happened"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "has "taken place"" or "has "already occurred"" instead of "already happened".

What is the difference between "already happened" and "already occurring"?

"Already happened" refers to a completed event, while "already occurring" means something is currently in progress. Choose the phrase that accurately reflects the state of the action.

Which is correct: "already happened" or "all ready happened"?

"Already happened" is the correct phrasing. "All ready" means completely prepared and is used differently, so avoid using "all ready happened". Instead of that, stick with ""already happened"".