ago

American  

[uh-goh] / əˈgoʊ /

adjective

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

   five days ago.

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adverb

1. in past time; in the past.

   All this happened long ago.

ago British  

/ əˈɡəʊ /

adverb

1. in the past

   five years ago

   long ago

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Usage

What does ago mean? Ago means in the past.It’s always used in combination with other words that indicate exactly or about how much time has passed since something happened—never by itself (you wouldn’t say That happened ago).Examples of such phrases are three weeks ago, an hour ago, five days ago, long ago, and a long time ago.Example: A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away ….

Etymology

Origin of ago

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

Example Sentences

But the Floridian, who remains eligible for all four majors courtesy of his 2023 US PGA Championship victory, is clearly keen to rejoin the tour he dramatically left four years ago.

From BBC

Smolyak, who worked as a medic for more than 25 years, fled his home in the southern Kherson region when Russia invaded nearly four years ago.

From Barron's

The Buy-rating ratio was a little higher a few days ago.

From Barron's

Paez, who left Venezuela several years ago as inflation spiraled and crime spiked, has grandchildren in Spain and said he would be loath to leave them.

From Los Angeles Times

My wife and I purchased a home in Tennessee a few years ago to be closer to her father.

From MarketWatch