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 victim drove himself to a hospital and has since been released, Railsback said, but is still recovering from the gunshot wounds. Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024 Fate, Ditto has since learned, works in funny ways. Stephen Daw, Billboard, 20 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for since 

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 29 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

More from Merriam-Webster on since

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!