since
Americanadverb
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from then till now (often preceded byever ).
He was elected in 1978 and has been president ever since.
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between a particular past time and the present; subsequently.
She at first refused, but has since consented.
-
before now; ago.
long since.
preposition
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continuously from or counting from.
It has been warm since noon.
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between a past time or event and the present.
There have been many changes since the war.
conjunction
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in the period following the time when.
He has written once since he left.
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continuously from or counting from the time when.
He has been busy since he came.
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because; inasmuch as.
Since you're already here, you might as well stay.
preposition
conjunction
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(sometimes preceded by ever) continuously from or starting from the time when
since we last met, important things have happened
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seeing that; because
since you have no money, you can't come
adverb
Usage
See as 1.
Etymology
Origin of since
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; sith, -s 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Mortgage rates dipped below 6% in late February for the first time since 2022.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026
"This does not slip," bellowed an emotional Liverpool skipper after a 3-2 win at Manchester City made it 10 on the spin and put the Reds on the brink of a first title since 1990.
From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026
“But we’ve been arguing since mid-March that what’s really important from a market perspective is the rate of change, not the level.”
From MarketWatch • Apr. 13, 2026
Her father’s mono bloc chair hasn’t moved from the spot it was last in since he passed.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026
Mom says that since it’s always been Dad’s thing to take us, he should be the one to continue doing it.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.