sometime

[ suhm-tahym ]

/ ˈsʌmˌtaɪm /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for sometime on Thesaurus.com

Definition of sometime

adverb

at some indefinite or indeterminate point of time: He will arrive sometime next week.

at an indefinite future time: Come to see me sometime.

Archaic. sometimes; on some occasions.

Archaic. at one time; formerly.

adjective

having been formerly; former: The diplomat was a sometime professor of history at Oxford.

being so only at times or to some extent: Traveling so much, he could never be more than a sometime husband.

that cannot be depended upon regarding affections or loyalties: He was well rid of his sometime girlfriend.

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of sometime

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at some, time

usage note for sometime

The adverb sometime is written as one word: He promised to paint the garage sometime soon. The two-word form some time means “an unspecified interval or period of time”: It will take some time for the wounds to heal.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH sometime

sometime , sometimes

Words nearby sometime

Something is rotten in the state of Denmark, something like, something of a, something or other, something tells me, sometime, sometimes, someway, somewhat, somewhen, somewhere

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use sometime in a sentence

The first public screening of Pathé film shorts took place sometime around 1903.
Propaganda, Protest, and Poisonous Vipers: The Cinema War in Korea|Rich Goldstein|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On Christmas Day, sometime after dark, a hideous fire overtook the venue: 100 firefighters, 33 fire trucks, a four-alarm blaze.
The Fiery Death of Sotto Sotto, Toronto’s Celebrity Hotspot|Shinan Govani|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
According to police sources, was believed to have visited New York City sometime last week.
Alleged Cop Killer Ismaaiyl Brinsley Had a Death Wish|M.L. Nestel|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And Cervecería Legitima, yet another brewpub, is set to open in the city sometime in 2015.
House of the Witch: The Renegade Craft Brewers of Panama|Jeff Campagna|November 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Tonkin said he expected Frein to be brought before a judge sometime on Friday, which happens to be Halloween.
Killer Eric Frein Held in Murdered Cop’s Cuffs|Michael Daly|October 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Even at his age he had ambitions, and expected that sometime he would, like his father, serve the king in some office.
Our Little Korean Cousin|H. Lee M. Pike
It was a dangerous journey into this wonderful cave, but sometime Alila must go there, his father said.
Alila, Our Little Philippine Cousin|Mary Hazelton Wade
These stems, with the refuse of other tobacco, are sometime used as filling for the commonest kind of cigars.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.
Miss Dory would say so, but, Mas'r Crompton, you'll fotch her back sometime to de ole place.
The Cromptons|Mary J. Holmes
Let it suffice that what we are about to relate did happen, sometime or other within the present century.
The Floating Light of the Goodwin Sands|R.M. Ballantyne

British Dictionary definitions for sometime

sometime

/ (ˈsʌmˌtaɪm) /

adverb

at some unspecified point of time

adjective

(prenominal) having been at one time; formerthe sometime President

(prenominal) US occasional; infrequent

usage for sometime

The form sometime should not be used to refer to a fairly long period of time: he has been away for some time (not for sometime)

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

sometime

Definition of sometime

Origin of sometime

usage note for sometime

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH sometime

Words nearby sometime

Words related to sometime

How to use sometime in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for sometime

usage for sometime