ago

[ uh-goh ]

adjective

1. gone; gone by; past (usually preceded by a noun):

   five days ago.

adverb

1. in past time; in the past:

   All this happened long ago.

ago

/ əˈɡəʊ /

adverb

1. in the past

   long ago

   five years ago

Usage

The use of ago with since ( it's ten years ago since he wrote the novel ) is redundant and should be avoided: it is ten years since he wrote the novel

Word History and Origins

Origin of ago¹

before 1000; Middle English ago ( n ), Old English āgān, past participle of āgān to go by, pass, equivalent to ā- a- ³ + gān to go ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of ago¹

C14 ago, from Old English āgān to pass away

Example Sentences

Why would “they” want to crush him just for attempting to buy something twenty years ago?

From The Daily Beast

The rebels though seemed somewhat chastened by the result despite more than doubling the anti-Boehner votes from two years ago.

From The Daily Beast

Decades ago, the writer-director wrote an episode of the animated comedy that never was.

From The Daily Beast

The Daily Beast has followed some of the refugees who landed in Sicily a month ago.

From The Daily Beast

This was nine fewer than what he needed just two years ago when 426 members of the House voted.

From The Daily Beast

Ages back—let musty geologists tell us how long ago—'twas a lake, larger than the Lake of Geneva.

From Project Gutenberg

Was he really condemned to an eternal solitude because of the girl who had died so many years ago?

From Project Gutenberg

Four years ago Hetton's horse had been first favourite, but it was ignominiously beaten.

From Project Gutenberg

Fern cases were very much in vogue some years ago, and this is really a very delightful way of cultivating the plants.

From Project Gutenberg

"That is why I told you the other meeting seemed a long time ago," explained the girl.

From Project Gutenberg