probably already

USAGE SUMMARY

"probably already" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are making an assumption or prediction that something has likely happened before or will happen soon. For example: "I ordered my package online, so it's probably already been shipped."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That's probably already happening.

The New Yorker

It has probably already started.

The New York Times

You probably already have.

The New York Times

It probably already is.

The Guardian - Sport

They have probably already shot their bolt.

The Economist

It has probably already been said.

The New York Times

But then you probably already knew that.

The New York Times

But you probably already knew that.

The New York Times

We're probably already in recession.

The Washington Post

You've probably already read it.

The Guardian - Books

"They are probably already doomed," he said.

Yale University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "probably already" when you want to convey a sense of assumption or expectation about something that has happened or is currently happening. It's suitable for expressing a belief without absolute certainty.

Common error

Avoid using "probably already" when you need to express a high degree of certainty. In such cases, consider using phrases like "almost certainly" or stating the fact directly without qualifiers.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "probably already" functions as an adverbial modifier, expressing the speaker's assessment of the likelihood and timing of an event. Ludwig examples demonstrate its role in indicating assumptions about actions that have likely transpired.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "probably already" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to express an assumption or expectation that something has likely happened. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and frequently employed in various contexts, particularly within news and media. When using this phrase, ensure it aligns with the intended level of certainty and the formality of your context. Alternatives like "likely already" or "almost certainly already" can be considered to fine-tune the expression. Remember that precise word choice can help refine your meaning and clarify your perspective.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

likely already

Similar in meaning, but replaces "probably" with its synonym "likely".

almost certainly already

Adds more emphasis to the likelihood by including "almost certainly".

very likely already

Replaces "probably" with the more direct "very likely".

most likely already

Similar to "very likely already", indicating a strong possibility.

in all likelihood already

A more formal version that suggests something is expected to have happened.

presumably already

Implies that something is assumed based on evidence.

quite possibly already

Suggests a possibility, although not with absolute certainty.

conceivably already

Indicates something is possible, although perhaps not very probable.

potentially already

Suggests there's a chance something has happened or is happening.

perhaps already

A more hesitant version, expressing doubt while still implying a possibility.

FAQs

What does "probably already" mean?

It means that you believe something has likely happened or is in progress. It expresses an assumption or expectation without absolute certainty.

How to use "probably already" in a sentence?

Use "probably already" when you want to suggest that something is likely to have occurred. For instance, "They've been working on it for hours, so they've "probably already" finished."

Which is correct, "probably already" or "already probably"?

"Probably already" is the standard and grammatically correct order. "Already probably" is less common and may sound awkward in most contexts.

What can I say instead of "probably already"?

You can use alternatives like "likely already", "almost certainly already", or "most likely already" depending on the level of certainty you want to convey.