bygone
Americanadjective
noun
idioms
adjective
noun
-
(often plural) a past occurrence
-
(often plural) an artefact, implement, etc, of former domestic or industrial use, now often collected for interest
-
to agree to forget past quarrels
Etymology
Origin of bygone
1375–1425; late Middle English (north) by-gane; see gone, by
Explanation
The adjective bygone is good for describing long-ago times. Your grandparents might enjoy looking at old photo albums and reminiscing about bygone days. A bygone era happened in the distant past, and a bygone sweetheart is an early romantic interest remembered by someone who's since lived a long life. You're most likely to see the phrase "bygone days" being used in a nostalgic way. If someone says, "Let bygones be bygones," they want to make up for long-ago slights and arguments, leaving them in the past where they belong.
Vocabulary lists containing bygone
Ancient Wisdom: Synonyms for "Old"
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Tolkien Reading Day, List 7
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Merle Haggard (1937-2016) Tribute List
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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.
“The ornamentation and the craftsmanship represent a bygone era.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026
"One might be tempted to imagine the 'gentleman scientist' as a bygone era, but it's alive and well here in Berkeley."
From Science Daily ● Sep. 26, 2026
From old Hollywood's Marilyn Monroe to adorning singer Sabrina Carpenter in a pearly dress reminiscent of the 90s, Mackie's ensembles felt new and exciting – even when they recalled a bygone age.
From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026
Harry Styles’ queer residency, and other spectacles like it, are what is left until a new bygone era arrives in time.
From Salon ● Sep. 6, 2026
Furthermore, it was happening in the present, not in bygone days of fabled deeds.
From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
