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prep A2 Elementary Very common

since

sihns
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Since (prep) means From a particular point in the past up until now. Example: “She has lived in Bristol since 2015.”

prep
1
From a particular point in the past up until now.
"She has lived in Bristol since 2015."
"I haven't seen him since last summer."
"It has been quiet in the house since breakfast."
conj
1
From the time that; from when.
"Since you mentioned it, I have been thinking about the trip."
"I have felt much happier since I moved closer to work."
"A lot has changed since we last met at the market."
2
Because; given that.
"Since it was raining, we cancelled the picnic."
"Since you know the way, would you like to drive?"
"We stayed inside all day, since the roads were icy."

How to use since

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishFrom a point in the past until now — or, as a conjunction, meaning "because."

Common mistake

"Since" (time) needs a fixed starting point ("since Monday"), while "for" describes a duration ("for three days") — don't mix them up.

Easily confused with
for → because →
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She has lived in Bristol _____ 2015.

Etymology

This word comes from Middle English syns, synnes, a contraction of the earlier sithens, sithence, from sithen ("after, since") plus -s, an adverbial genitive suffix, from Old English sīþþan, from the phrase sīþ þǣm ("after/since that (time)"), made up of sīþ ("since, after") and þǣm, the dative singular of þæt. It is cognate with Dutch sinds ("since"), German seit ("since"), Danish siden ("since"), Icelandic síðan ("since"), and Scots syne ("since").

Origin: Middle English

Synonyms

View more →
ever since from starting from as of sithence

Antonyms

until while

Related words

to as from when because while until de

Rhymes for since

mince Vince prince quince province convince
See all rhymes for since →

Frequently asked questions

What does “since” mean?
The word “since” means from a particular point in the past up until now. In plain terms, from a point in the past until now — or, as a conjunction, meaning "because.".
How do you pronounce “since”?
“Since” is pronounced sihns (/sɪn(t)s/ in IPA).
How do you use “since” in a sentence?
Here is “since” used in a sentence: “She has lived in Bristol since 2015.”
What is another word for “since”?
Words with a similar meaning to “since” include sithence.
What is the opposite of “since”?
The opposite of “since” — its antonyms — are until and while.
What part of speech is “since”?
Depending on how it is used, “since” can be a preposition and a conjunction.
Is “since” a common word?
“Since” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “since” have?
“Since” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: from a particular point in the past up until now.
What is the difference between 'since' and 'for'?
'Since' marks the starting point of a period — 'since Monday,' 'since 2010.' 'For' marks the length of the period — 'for three days,' 'for years.' Both often pair with the present perfect tense, but 'since' answers 'from when?' while 'for' answers 'how long?' Mixing them is a frequent mistake.
Can 'since' mean 'because'?
Yes. Besides marking time, 'since' can introduce a reason — 'since you're here, let's begin.' Here it works like 'because' or 'as.' Context makes the meaning clear: if it points to a moment in time, it is temporal; if it explains why, it is causal.
What is an example of 'since'?
'I have lived here since 2015' shows the time sense, marking when the situation began and implying it still continues. 'She hasn't called since Tuesday' works the same way. In each case, 'since' fixes a point in the past and stretches forward to the present moment.

Example sentences

Real-world examples showing since in context, drawn from published sources. Any opinions expressed are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.

SpaceX launched its massive Starship rocket Friday evening from its company town and launch facility in Starbase, Texas, in a 13th test flight and the first since the company's record IPO last month.
From CNBC · Jul 24, 2026

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