since

Universal Words preposition, conjunction, adverb preposition 1 (used with the present, perfect or past perfect tense) from a time in the past until a later past time, or until now: She's been off work since Tuesday. * We've lived here since 1994. * I haven't eaten since breakfast. * He's been working in a bank since leaving school. * Since the party she had only spoken to him once. * 'They've split up.' 'Since when?' * That was years ago. I've changed jobs since then. HELPNOTE Use for, not since, with a period of time: I've been learning English for five years. * _I_'_v_e_ _b_e_e_n_ _l_e_a_r_n_i_n_g_ _E_n_g_l_i_s_h_ _s_i_n_c_e_ _f_i_v_e_ _y_e_a_r_s_. 2 ~ when? used when you are showing that you are angry about sth: Since when did he ever listen to me? conjunction 1 (used with the present perfect, past perfect or simple present tense in the main clause) from an event in the past until a later past event, or until now: Cath hasn't phoned since she went to Berlin. * It was the first time I'd had visitors since I'd moved to London. * It's twenty years since I've seen her. * How long is it since we last went to the theatre? * She had been worrying ever since the letter arrived. 2 because; as: We thought that, since we were in the area, we'd stop by and see them. adverb (used with the present, perfect or past perfect tense) 1 from a time in the past until a later past time, or until now: He left home two weeks ago and we haven't heard from him since. * The original building has long since (= long before now) been demolished. 2 at a time after a particular time in the past: We were divorced two years ago and she has since remarried.