Definition

Adverb 1. At a time in the distant past; long ago: Indicates that an action was completed or a state began far in the past and remains true. It emphasizes the significant passage of time since the event occurred.

Usage

• The phrase "long since" is used to emphasize that something happened, ended, or was completed a very long time ago. It is often used with the present perfect or past perfect tenses.
• It typically appears in the middle or at the end of a clause.

Examples

• With Present Perfect: (He retired many years ago and is still retired now.)
• With Present Perfect (passive): (They were forgotten many years ago and remain forgotten.)
• With Past Perfect: (Her departure was far in the past relative to my arrival.)
• At end of clause:

Advanced Usage

• "To be long since" + adjective/past participle: A common structure describing a state that was established long ago.
  • The matter is long since settled. (The decision was made long ago and is final.)
  • The flowers were long since dead. (They died a long time ago.)

Variants and Related Words

• Long ago (adverbial phrase): A more common synonym with a very similar meaning.
  • He left the company long ago.
• Lang syne (adverb, archaic/Scottish): The Scots language origin of the phrase "long since," famously used in the song "Auld Lang Syne," meaning "times long past."

Synonyms

• Long ago
• Ages ago
• Far back
• Long ago and far away

Notes

• "Long since" is a fixed adverbial phrase. It is more formal and literary than the simpler "long ago."
• It is not used to refer to the distant future (e.g., "long since" cannot mean "long into the future").

Adverb

1. of the distant or comparatively distant past
   • We met once long ago
   • they long ago forsook their nomadic life
   • left for work long ago
   • he has long since given up mountain climbing
   • This name has long since been forgotten
   • lang syne is Scottish