You use since when you are mentioning a time or event in the past and indicating that a situation has continued from then until now.
Jacques Arnold has been a Member of Parliament since 1987.
She had a breakthrough in her research some years ago, and since then she has beenvery successful.
I've been here since the end of June.
Since is also an adverb.
When we first met, we had a row, and we have rowed frequently ever since.
They went to Dartmouth College together in the 1960s and have frequently done businesstogether since.
I returned home to Sussex and have since worked as a solicitor.
Since is also a conjunction.
I've earned my own living since I was seven, doing all kinds of jobs.
Ever since he was a boy, de Forest had dreamed of making his fortune as an inventor.
2. preposition
You use since to mention a time or event in the past when you are describing an event or situation that has happened after that time.
The percentage increase in reported crime in England and Wales this year is the highestsince the war.
They were the first band since the Beatles to reach No 1 with each of their firstfour albums.
Since is also a conjunction.
So much has changed in the sport since I was a teenager.
Since I have become a mother, the sound of children's voices has lost its charm.
...a slight accent she had acquired since he last saw her.
3. adverb [ADVERB with verb]
When you are talking about an event or situation in the past, you use since to indicate that another event happened at some point later in time.
About six thousand people were arrested, several hundred of whom have since beenreleased.
There is increasing criticism among his supporters, many of whom have since leftCentral Office.
4.
See long since
5. conjunction
You use since to introduce reasons or explanations.
I'm forever losing things since I'm quite forgetful.
Since she did not make enough money to live in her own house, she went back to livewith her mother.
English Easy Learning GrammarPrepositionsA preposition is one of a small but very common group of words that relate differentitems to each other. Most English prepositions have a number of meanings ... Read more
since in British English
(sɪns)
preposition
1.
during or throughout the period of time after
since May it has only rained once
conjunction(subordinating)
2. (sometimes preceded by ever)
continuously from or starting from the time when
since we last met, important things have happened
3.
seeing that; because
since you have no money, you can't come
adverb
4.
since that time
he left yesterday and I haven't seen him since
▶ USAGE See note at ago
Word origin
Old English sīththan, literally: after that; related to Old High German sīd since, Latin sērus late
since in American English
(sɪns)
adverb
1.
from then until now
she arrived Tuesday and has been here ever since
2.
at some or any time between then and now; subsequently
he was ill last week but has since recovered
3.
before the present time; before now; ago
they are long since gone
preposition
4.
continuously from (the time given) until now
out walking since one o'clock
5.
during the period between (the time given) and now; subsequently to
many achievements since his election
conjunction
6.
during the period from the specified time or event until the present
I haven't seen him since we were in high school
7.
continuously from the time when
I've been lonely since he left
8.
inasmuch as; because
since you are finished, let's go
Word origin
ME syns, contr. < sithens, adv. gen. of sithen < OE siththan, for earlier *siththon < sith, after, since (for IE base see side) + thon, instrumental form of thæt, that
More idioms containing
since
since the year dot
the best thing since sliced bread
Examples of 'since' in a sentence
since
We came here five years ago and since then only one property has been sold.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
But many young artists since have become wary of such composite arrangements.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
She has since gone back to the family home.
The Sun (2012)
The couple have since moved in together.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
It would be better than renting a place since you also have day housekeeping.
The Sun (2012)
This attitude has got him a long way since then.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
This has since become part of punk folklore.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Most have since been eased back into the fold.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
They had long since come to an accommodation with each other.
Jan Fennell FRIENDS FOR LIFE (2003)
Many of these advances have since become routine treatments in healthcare systems around the world.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Since time began people have honoured and respected their parents in gratitude for the very gift of life.
Bethune, Helen Positive Parent Power (1991)
But it is now 112 games since his last league goal.
The Sun (2012)
We became one of those couples no one wanted to see together since we were both so much more pleasant without the other.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It's also many years since he bought a decent player.
The Sun (2012)
The price has been cut by 2.5m since last year.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It is 13 years since he last boxed and he says that he wishes he had fought again.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
She has not used the machine since January as a result, drying her laundry over the radiators instead.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Since you live in Paradise full of happy people, the effort to subvert it must come from outside.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
since
British English: since /sɪns/ ADVERB
You use since when you are talking about something that started in the past, and that has not stopped from then until now.
When we first met, we had a row, and we have rowed frequently ever since.
American English: since
Arabic: مُنْذُ
Brazilian Portuguese: desde então
Chinese: 此后
Croatian: otada
Czech: od té doby
Danish: siden
Dutch: sindsdien
European Spanish: desde entonces
Finnish: sen jälkeen
French: depuis
German: seitdem
Greek: έκτοτε
Italian: da allora
Japanese: その時以来
Korean: 그 이래
Norwegian: siden
Polish: odtąd
European Portuguese: desde então
Romanian: de atunci
Russian: с
Latin American Spanish: desde entonces
Swedish: sedan dess
Thai: จากนั้นมา
Turkish: o zamandan beri
Ukrainian: відтоді
Vietnamese: từ đó
British English: since /sɪns/ CONJUNCTION
You use since when you are talking about something that started in the past, and that has not stopped from then until now.
I've lived here since I was six years old.
American English: since
Arabic: مُنْذُ
Brazilian Portuguese: desde que
Chinese: 自从
Croatian: otkako
Czech: jelikož
Danish: siden
Dutch: sinds
European Spanish: desde que
Finnish: jostakin lähtien
French: puisque
German: seitdem
Greek: αφότου
Italian: da quando
Japanese: ･･･して以来
Korean: ...한 후에
Norwegian: siden
Polish: odkąd
European Portuguese: desde que
Romanian: de când
Russian: с тех пор как
Latin American Spanish: desde que
Swedish: sedan
Thai: ตั้งแต่
Turkish: den beri
Ukrainian: з того часу
Vietnamese: suốt từ lúc
British English: since /sɪns/ PREPOSITION
You use since when you are talking about something that started in the past, and that has not stopped from then until now.
I've not seen her since my birthday.
American English: since
Arabic: مُنْذُ
Brazilian Portuguese: desde
Chinese: 自…以来
Croatian: od
Czech: od určité doby doteď
Danish: siden
Dutch: sinds
European Spanish: desde
Finnish: jostakin lähtien
French: depuis
German: seit
Greek: από χρονικό
Italian: da
Japanese: ･･･以来
Korean: ... 이후에
Norwegian: fra
Polish: od
European Portuguese: desde
Romanian: de la
Russian: с
Latin American Spanish: desde
Swedish: sedan
Thai: ตั้งแต่
Turkish: den beri
Ukrainian: після
Vietnamese: từ thời gian
All related terms of 'since'
long since
If you say that something has long since happened , you mean that it happened a long time ago .
since the year dot
for a very long time
the best thing since sliced bread
something that someone thinks is very good, original , and exciting
since time immemorial/from time immemorial
If you say that something has been happening since time immemorial or from time immemorial , you are emphasizing that it has been happening for many centuries .
to be the best thing since sliced bread
to be very good
Chinese translation of 'since'
since
(sɪns)
adv
(= from then onwards) 此后(後) (cǐhòu)
⇒ They went to college together and have done business together since.他们一起上的大学并从此后一起做生意。 (Tāmen yīqǐ shàng de dàxué bìng cóng cǐ hòu yīqǐ zuò shēngyì.)
(= latterly) 后(後)来(來) (hòulái)
⇒ 6,000 people were arrested, several hundred of whom have since been released.6000人被逮捕，其中几百人后来被释放。 (Liùqiān rén bèi dàibǔ, qízhōng jǐ bǎi rén hòulái bèi shìfàng.)
prep
(= from) 自 ... 以来(來) (zì ... yǐlái)
(= after) 从(從) ... 以后(後) (cóng ... yǐhòu)
⇒ I haven't seen powdered eggs since the war.自战后我从未见过鸡蛋粉。 (Zì zhàn hòu wǒ cóng wèi jiànguò jīdànfěn.)
conj
(= from when) 自从(從) (zìcóng)
⇒ I've been wearing glasses since I was three.我从3岁起就戴眼镜。 (Wǒ cóng sān suì qǐ jiù dài yǎnjìng.)
(= after) 从(從) ... 以后(後) (cóng ... yǐhòu)
⇒ So much has changed in the sport since I was a teenager.自我十几岁起，这项运动已经改变了很多。 (Zì wǒ shí jǐ suì qǐ, zhè xiàng yùndòng yǐjīng gǎibiànle hěnduō.)
(= as) 因为(為) (yīnwèi)
since then or ever since从(從)那时(時)起 (cóng nàshí qǐ)
I've been here since the end of June我自6月底以来(來)一直在这(這)儿(兒)。 (wǒ zì liùyuè dǐ yǐlái yīzhí zài zhèr)
since it was Saturday, he stayed in bed an extra hour因为(為)是星期六，他在床上多呆了一小时(時)。 (yīnwèi shì xīngqīliù, tā zài chuáng shang duō dāile yī xiǎoshí)
long since很久以前 (hěn jiǔ yǐqián)
for 用来表示过去、现在或将来某事持续的时间的长短，或未发生某事的时间的长短。 She slept for eight hours ... He will be away for three weeks ... I hadn't seen him for four years. 表示某个时间段开始时，用 since。 She has been with the group since it began ... the first civilian president since the coup 17 years ago ... since 还可以表示某事发生的最后时间，或者未发生某事的时间的长短。 She hadn't eaten since breakfast ... It was a long time since she had been to church.
All related terms of 'since'
ever since
( adv ) 从(從) ... 以来(來) cóng ... yǐlái ⇒ We have been friends ever since. → 我们从那时以来一直是朋友。 Wǒmen cóng nàshí yǐlái yīzhí shì péngyou.
long since
很久以前 hěn jiǔ yǐqián
since then
自从(從)那时(時) zìcóng nàshí
since then or ever since
从(從)那时(時)起 cóng nàshí qǐ
it's a fortnight since ...
自从(從) ... 已经(經)过(過)了两(兩)个(個)星期了 zìcóng ... yǐjīng guòle liǎnggè xīngqī le
I haven't seen him for ages/since July
我已经(經)很久/自7月以来(來)就没(沒)见(見)过(過)他了 wǒ yǐjīng hěn jiǔ/zì qīyuè yǐlái jiù méi jiànguo tā le