sometime

American  

[suhm-tahym] / ˈsʌmˌtaɪm /

adverb

1. at some indefinite or indeterminate point of time.

   He will arrive sometime next week.

2. at an indefinite future time.

   Come to see me sometime.

3. Archaic. sometimes; on some occasions.

4. Archaic. at one time; formerly.

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adjective

1. having been formerly; former.

   The diplomat was a sometime professor of history at Oxford.

2. being so only at times or to some extent.

   Traveling so much, he could never be more than a sometime husband.

3. that cannot be depended upon regarding affections or loyalties.

   He was well rid of his sometime girlfriend.

sometime British  

/ ˈsʌmˌtaɪm /

adverb

1. at some unspecified point of time

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adjective

1. (prenominal) having been at one time; former

   the sometime President

2. (prenominal) occasional; infrequent

Spelling

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.

Usage

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 )

Etymology

Origin of sometime

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

Example Sentences

The bonus scene takes place sometime after the movie’s main story ends at the prison where Bowser and Bowser Jr. have been locked up.

From Los Angeles Times

At the Digital Asset Summit in New York last week, SEC Chairman Paul Atkins said the agency would release the innovation exemption sometime in the next month.

From Barron's

“Gotta become a man sometime, isn’t it, though?” my dad responded.

From Literature

All that assumes the conflict ends and the Strait reopens sometime in April.

From Barron's

Gellar has the chance to wave Buffy Summers goodbye, blow her a kiss and revisit her sometime in the future, if that time ever comes.

From Salon

Related Words

• late
• once
• periodically
• someday