adverbial N3 common writtenpolite
既に — already / by now
既に ・ すでに
Meaning
- already / by now — an event was complete by the reference time; formal
Key sentence
会議は既に始まっていた。
The meeting had already begun.
Usage
Formal and writing-leaning — the counterpart of spoken もう. Common in reports and narration.
Examples
申込みは既に締め切られている。
Applications have already been closed.
彼が着いた時、店は既に閉まっていた。
By the time he arrived, the shop had already closed.
Easily confused with
See 既に in real sentences
Jengo shows 既に the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled from published Japanese grammar references.