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Synonyms

since

American  
[sins] / sɪns /

adverb

  1. from then till now (often preceded byever ).

    He was elected in 1978 and has been president ever since.

  2. between a particular past time and the present; subsequently.

    She at first refused, but has since consented.

  3. before now; ago.

    long since.

preposition

  1. continuously from or counting from.

    It has been warm since noon.

  2. between a past time or event and the present.

    There have been many changes since the war.

conjunction

  1. in the period following the time when.

    He has written once since he left.

  2. continuously from or counting from the time when.

    He has been busy since he came.

  3. because; inasmuch as.

    Since you're already here, you might as well stay.
since British  
/ sɪns /

preposition

  1. during or throughout the period of time after

    since May it has only rained once
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

conjunction

  1. (sometimes preceded by ever) continuously from or starting from the time when

    since we last met, important things have happened

  2. seeing that; because

    since you have no money, you can't come
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adverb

  1. since that time

    he left yesterday and I haven't seen him since
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
since Idioms  

  1. see greatest thing since sliced bread.

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.

Since launching in 2020, it has supported more than 500 artists across Scotland.

From BBC

It is the biggest shake-up in local government in Essex since 1974.

From BBC

Following allegations of corruption linked to the awarding of the contract, a dozen senior police officers have been formally charged over their role in the deal, which has since been cancelled.

From BBC

Norway have qualified for their first finals since 1998.

From BBC

They are not believed to include Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtada Khamenei, who has not been seen since being wounded in the same attack that killed his father on 28 February.

From BBC

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.