since

[ sins ]
See synonyms for since on Thesaurus.com
adverb
  1. from then till now (often preceded by ever): He was elected in 1978 and has been president ever since.

  2. between a particular past time and the present; subsequently: She at first refused, but has since consented.

  1. before now; ago: long since.

preposition
  1. continuously from or counting from: It has been warm since noon.

  2. between a past time or event and the present: There have been many changes since the war.

conjunction
  1. in the period following the time when: He has written once since he left.

  2. continuously from or counting from the time when: He has been busy since he came.

  1. because; inasmuch as: Since you're already here, you might as well stay.

Origin of since

1
First recorded in 1400–50; Late Middle English (adverb) syns, sinnes “thereupon, afterwards,” Middle English (adverb and conjunction) sithenes “afterwards, from (the specified time), because,” equivalent to sithen “after that, since” (Old English siththan, originally sīth thām “after that”) + -es; see origin at sith, -s1

usage note For since

8. See as1.

Words Nearby since

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use since in a sentence

  • She drew Esmay after her down the draughty passage that led to the offices of the long-since-deserted dwelling-house.

    The Doomsman | Van Tassel Sutphen
  • The long-since dismantled Abbey of Lanercost had its origin in a tragedy.

  • How can we reasonably expect that the road back to our long-since forsaken God is to be smooth, pleasant, velvet-covered.

    The Prodigal Returns | Lilian Staveley
  • since-355- thou must become as mortals are, and the slave of man, I will guard thee from all but the brave.

    Operas Every Child Should Know | Mary Schell Hoke Bacon

British Dictionary definitions for since

since

/ (sɪns) /


preposition
  1. during or throughout the period of time after: since May it has only rained once

conjunction(subordinating)
  1. (sometimes preceded by ever) continuously from or starting from the time when: since we last met, important things have happened

  2. seeing that; because: since you have no money, you can't come

adverb
  1. since that time: he left yesterday and I haven't seen him since

Origin of since

1
Old English sīththan, literally: after that; related to Old High German sīd since, Latin sērus late

since

See ago

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with since

since

see greatest thing since sliced bread.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.