sometime

1 of 2

adverb

some·​time ˈsəm-ˌtīm 

1

: at some time in the future

I'll do it sometime.

2

: at some not specified or definitely known point of time

sometime last night

3

archaic : in the past : formerly

4

archaic : once in a while : occasionally

sometime

2 of 2

adjective

1

: having been formerly : former, late

2

: being so occasionally or in only some respects

a sometime father

Synonyms

Adverb

• eventually
• finally
• someday
• sooner or later
• ultimately
• yet

Adjective

• erstwhile
• former
• late
• old
• once
• onetime
• other
• past
• quondam
• whilom

Examples of sometime in a Sentence

Adverb

We should get together sometime.

It's likely to happen sometime soon.

She will return from her trip sometime in December.

A burglar broke in sometime during the night.

The book was written sometime around the turn of the century.

Adjective

a sometime athlete who's gotten awfully fat

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

Expect the next-generation Taara chip to launch sometime next year. —Michael Kan, PCMAG, 28 Feb. 2025

The order banks for the Ramcharger will open up sometime in the first half of this year with deliveries expected to start sometime in the second half. —Sam Abuelsamid, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025

Adjective

The Chicago thrillers feature college student and sometime dog obedience trainer Cory Pratt, who lives with his sister Crystal Pratt, an investigator in the violent crimes section of the Chicago police department. —Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 16 Feb. 2025

The best chance of precipitation will be from sometime Saturday afternoon into Sunday. —Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 11 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sometime

• aforetime
• allozyme
• anytime
• christmastime
• cybercrime
• dinnertime
• guggenheim
• isozyme
• lysozyme
• maritime
• mesenchyme
• overtime

Kids Definition

sometime

1 of 2 adverb

some·​time ˈsəm-ˌtīm 

1

: at some time in the future

I'll do it sometime

2

: at some unspecified or uncertain point of time

sometime last night

sometime

2 of 2 adjective

: having been at an earlier time : former, late

sometime mayor