In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
Hi!
A: Do you think you can come?
B: I’m sorry. I’m already doing something this Friday.
A: What are you going to be doing?
B: My family and I are going to dinner.
I’m already doing something this Friday.
What does “already” mean here?
Thank you
Have you ever heard of a dictionary?
First, you could delete already and have mostly the same meaning.
B: I’m sorry. I’m doing something this Friday.
Using the dictionary definition, previously, results in a major change to the sentence.
“I have previously made plans to do something this Friday.”
Better would be:
“I have existing plans to do something this Friday.”
This keeps the present tense.
Thank you so much, Arinker 
Very nice.
The reason I asked this question is that already has at least two meanings.
1- by this or that time; prior to or at some specified or implied time; previously:
When we came in, we found they had already arrived.
2- now; so soon; so early:
Is it noon already?
3- …
–
You use already to show that something has happened, or that something had happened before the moment you are referring to.
You use already to show that a situation exists at this present moment or that it exists at an earlier time than expected.
Sounds like you’ve looked it up in a dictionary. Nice, Rezaforu, though I must warn you…copyright infringement. It’s punishable by law. Even by international law enforcement.
But your message also it makes it crystal clear to me that, in fact, you’re a bit of a fraud and someone who likes to have people on. Don’t try and pull the other leg, will you?
Dictionaries quite often have many definitions which are subtle variations of the target word, such as using the concept of “previously“ in different ways for “already”. It can be difficult to try every definition if you don’t start with knowing the concept of the target word.
Here, the “situation exists” definition is perfect. Note, though, that no synonym is given. “Already” is already the perfect word.
Thank you so much, Arinker
Very nice.