since

1 of 3

adverb

1
: from a definite past time until now
has stayed there ever since
2
: before the present time : ago
long since dead
3
: after a time in the past : subsequently
has since become rich

since

2 of 3

conjunction

1
: at a time in the past after or later than
has held two jobs since he graduated
: from the time in the past when
ever since I was a child
2
obsolete : when
3
: in view of the fact that : because
since it was raining she took an umbrella

since

3 of 3

preposition

: in the period after a specified time in the past : from a specified time in the past

Examples of since in a Sentence

Adverb She graduated four years ago and has since married. He left home two years ago and has since become a soldier. Conjunction We've played better since you joined the team. He has had two jobs since he graduated. He hasn't ridden a bike since he was a boy. They haven't won a championship since Truman was President. Preposition I haven't seen him since yesterday. I haven't eaten since breakfast. Since the party, she has not spoken to him at all. The company has been in its present location since the beginning of the century. We've been waiting for you since 10 o'clock.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adverb
The company has since pivoted as a quality film and TV content producer. Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Mar. 2024 Absinthe gained a reputation as having dangerous hallucinogenic and psychoactive properties, although that has since been disproven (the likely culprit was just drinking way too much). Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 8 Mar. 2024 Silverman has since spent two decades turning this curiosity into a booming business as the co-founder and co-chief executive officer of The Lede Company, one of Hollywood's most powerful PR firms. Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Mar. 2024 The maintenance was originally scheduled for 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. UTC which is 3 a.m. to 9 a.m. EST but has since been pushed back. Katie Wiseman, The Indianapolis Star, 8 Mar. 2024 The San Francisco International Airport’s runway was briefly closed to clear debris but has since reopened, and there was no further impact to airport operations, Yakel said. Taylor Romine, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024 The homeowner has since changed the locks, Ladd wrote. David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2024 The city has since come into compliance, but because the developers submitted their application before Housing and Community Development approved La Cañada’s housing element plan, the builder’s remedy provision remained an option. Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024 Various pay deals have since been proposed, accepted and rejected. Katherine Hignett, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024
Preposition
But like every step before it, Ocando prevailed. His fight continued and since then, Ocando has acted as a legal consultant for the Venezuelan soccer league, Go Pro Sports Management and now teaches sports law at Florida Global University. Drake Hills, azcentral, 27 Aug. 2019 What have been the biggest or most provocative questions for you since then? Quanta Magazine, 27 Aug. 2019 Moreover, since this effort has taken place to reduce or eliminate thimerosal in vaccines, the autism rate hasn't gone down, the CDC says. Anna Borges, SELF, 26 Aug. 2019 Bob Goin was the Cincinnati athletic director who signed the deal, and since then the Bearcats have had five other ADs, including two interims. Kevin Allen, USA TODAY, 26 Aug. 2019 The Golden Knights figure to have plenty of experience on defense, which has been a staple since Bonds arrived at St. Francis. Charles Rich, Glendale News-Press, 26 Aug. 2019 Social media is a crucial part of digital marketing, and there's a lot to cover, since the course includes tools and skills specific to individual social media platforms. Noelle Ike, CNN Underscored, 26 Aug. 2019 That was more important to me,’’ said Patterson, who has been with the Vikings since Mike Zimmer took over as head coach in 2014. Chris Tomasson, Twin Cities, 25 Aug. 2019 Those August suits brought the total to 87 multistate legal actions in the 31 months since Trump took office, according to a database compiled by Marquette University political scientist Paul Nolette. al, 24 Aug. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'since.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

Middle English sins, contraction of sithens, from sithen, from Old English siththan, from sīth tham after that, from sīth after, late + tham, dative of thæt that; akin to Old High German sīd later and perhaps to Latin setius to a lesser degree

First Known Use

Adverb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Conjunction

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Preposition

circa 1530, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of since was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near since

Cite this Entry

“Since.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/since. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

since

1 of 3 adverb
1
: from a definite past time until now
has stayed there ever since
2
: before the present time : ago
long since dead
3
: after a time in the past
has since become rich

since

2 of 3 preposition
: from or after a specified time in the past
since summer, the team has improved

since

3 of 3 conjunction
1
: at a time or times in the past after or later than
has held a job since he graduated
: from the time in the past when
ever since I was a child
2
: for the reason that : because
since you're ready, we'll go now

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