sometime

[ suhm-tahym ]

adverb

1. at some indefinite or indeterminate point of time:

   He will arrive sometime next week.

2. at an indefinite future time:

   Come to see me sometime.

3. Archaic. sometimes; on some occasions.
4. Archaic. at one time; formerly.

adjective

1. having been formerly; former:

   The diplomat was a sometime professor of history at Oxford.

2. being so only at times or to some extent:

   Traveling so much, he could never be more than a sometime husband.

3. that cannot be depended upon regarding affections or loyalties:

   He was well rid of his sometime girlfriend.

sometime

/ ˈsʌmˌtaɪm /

adverb

1. at some unspecified point of time

adjective

1. prenominal having been at one time; former

   the sometime President

2. prenominal occasional; infrequent

Usage

The form sometime should not be used to refer to a fairly long period of time: he has been away for some time (not for sometime )

Spelling Note

The adverb sometime is written as one word: He promised to paint the garage sometime soon. The two-word form some time means “an unspecified interval or period of time”: It will take some time for the wounds to heal.

Word History and Origins

Origin of sometime¹

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; some, time

Example Sentences

Whether Britain win the trophy sometime over the course of Raducanu's career, or not at all, remains to be seen.

From BBC

“As a result, there is still the potential for critical fire weather conditions across portions of Los Angeles and Ventura counties sometime between Tuesday and Thursday.”

From Los Angeles Times

If you’re looking for a twofer gift, book a reservation there for sometime in the new year — and let your giftee know by giving them this tin.

From Los Angeles Times

The board has not set a date for adopting the plan but is aiming for sometime in summer or fall of 2025, said Eric Oppenheimer, the board’s executive director.

From Los Angeles Times

“You go through these little stretches sometime, and you just want to make them a little stretch, you don’t want to let that extend.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• late
• once
• periodically
• someday