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  • long-ago
    long-ago
    adjective
    of or relating to the distant past or to remote events; ancient.
  • long ago
    long ago
    A time well before the present, the distant past. For example, I read that book long ago, or The battles of long ago were just as fierce. [Second half of 1300s]
Synonyms

long-ago

American  
[lawng-uh-goh, long-] / ˈlɔŋ əˌgoʊ, ˈlɒŋ- /

adjective

  1. of or relating to the distant past or to remote events; ancient.

    long-ago exploits remembered only in folk tales.
long ago Idioms  

  1. A time well before the present, the distant past. For example, I read that book long ago, or The battles of long ago were just as fierce. [Second half of 1300s]

Etymology

Origin of long-ago

First recorded in 1825–35

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.

Long ago, I began outsourcing—albeit to humans—tedious tasks such as preparing my taxes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 9, 2026

Long ago it became evident that when even the most sophisticated AI systems are flummoxed by a question or task, they fill in the blanks in their own knowledge by making things up.

From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2025

Long ago the clock belonged to Crohn Brothers Jewelers, but McHugh acquired it in the 1980s, and now he’s sent it to Seattle University, his alma mater.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 2, 2024

Long ago, Bartiromo was a respected financial journalist.

From Salon • Nov. 16, 2023

Long ago, Grandma and Grandpa Larsen had specified that when they died, all their children and their spouses were to use an allocated sum of money to go on a Scandinavian cruise.

From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull

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.