different between always vs usually

English

Alternative forms

• alwayes, alwayz, alwayez (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English alwayes, allwayes, allweyes, a variant of Middle English allwaye, alwey, alle wey (“always”), from Old English ealne?, ealnewe? (“always, perpetually”, literally “all the way, all the while, continuously”), from ealne + we? (accusative case), equivalent to alway +? -s. Cognate with Scots alwayis (“always”), Low German allerwegens (“very often”, literally “all ways'”). More at all, way.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /???(l).we?z/, /???l.w?z/
• (US) IPA^(key): /??l.we?z/, /??l.wiz/, /??l.w?z/
• Hyphenation: al?ways

Adverb

always (not comparable)

1. At all times; throughout all time; since the beginning.

   Synonyms: perpetually, continually, all the time, every time; see also Thesaurus:forever

   Antonyms: at no time, never; see also Thesaurus:never
2. Constantly during a certain period, or regularly at stated intervals (opposed to sometimes or occasionally).

   Synonyms: invariably, uniformly; see also Thesaurus:uniformly

   Antonyms: manywise, sundrily, variously; see also Thesaurus:diversely

   • 1840, Edward Bulwer-Lytton, Money

     His liveries are black,—his carriage is black,—he always rides a black galloway,—and, faith, if he ever marry again, I think he will show his respect to the sainted Maria by marrying a black woman.
3. (informal) In any event.

   Synonyms: anyhow, anyway, at any rate, regardless; see also Thesaurus:regardless

Usage notes

• Used for both duration and frequency.
• "Always" used with a continuous tense can imply anger or annoyance about another person's persistent habits, for example "My mum is always telling me to tidy me room!".

Derived terms

• alwaysness

Translations

English

Etymology

From Middle English usualli, equivalent to usual +? -ly. Displaced native Old English ?ewunel??e.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, US) IPA^(key): /?ju??(??)li/
• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /?ju??ju(?)li/

Adverb

usually (comparative more usually, superlative most usually)

1. Most of the time; less than always, but more than occasionally.

   • He and Gerald usually challenged the rollers in a sponson canoe when Gerald was there for the weekend?; or, when Lansing came down, the two took long swims seaward or cruised about in Gerald's dory, clad in their swimming-suits; and Selwyn's youth became renewed in a manner almost ridiculous, […].

2. Under normal conditions.

Synonyms

• (most of the time): generally, mainly, commonly, regularly, mostly, on the whole, in the main, for the most part, by and large, most often, ordinarily, wontedly; see also Thesaurus:usually
• (under normal conditions): customarily, habitually, wontly, normally, routinely, as a rule; see also Thesaurus:normally

Related terms

• use

Translations