since

1 of 3

adverb

ˈsin(t)s 

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

Synonyms

Adverb

• ago
• agone [archaic]
• back
• syne [chiefly Scottish]

Conjunction

• as
• as long as
• because
• being (as or as how or that) [chiefly dialect]
• 'cause
• considering
• for
• inasmuch as
• now
• seeing
• whereas

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

Slater and Lopez have since welcomed two children together, a daughter and a son, who join the actor’s two older children, Jaden and Eliana. —Ariana Quihuiz, People.com, 26 Oct. 2024

The erstwhile couple has since gone their separate real estate ways. —Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 26 Oct. 2024

Emhoff and Harris’ house, which was bought in 2012, has since ballooned in value from $1 million to $4.4 million as of 2021, per Forbes. —Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2024

It has since been adapted into two video games and a live-action film. —Jamie Lang, Variety, 26 Oct. 2024

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

Phrases Containing since

• ever since
• long since
• since that time
• since then
• since (the) year dot
• since (the) year one
• since time immemorial
• since when
• the best/greatest thing since sliced bread

Kids Definition

since

1 of 3 adverb

(ˈ)sin(t)s 

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