sometime

sometime — adverb

1. at a point in time that you cannot name exactly — the event might already have h

1.adverbA2
Definition

at a point in time that you cannot name exactly — the event might already have happened, or it may happen later

Example

Minh promised to call me sometime after eight o'clock tonight.

sometime after [time] — vague future arrangement

Sivan found a lovely old teapot in the shop sometime last spring.

sometime last [season] — vague past reference

Common collocations
  • sometime next week/month/year
  • sometime last week/month/year
  • sometime in + [period]
Synonyms
  • one day

    only refers to the future, not the past

  • eventually

    always future; implies a delay before the event

  • at some point

    more formal, can refer to past or future

Grammar Patterns

sometime + [time period/point]

sometime + [time clause]

Usage Note

Do not confuse with 'some time' (two words, meaning a period or duration: 'It took some time to finish') or 'sometimes' (with -s, meaning occasionally: 'I sometimes walk to work'). As an adverb, 'sometime' is always a single word.

Common Mistakes

I will visit you sometimes next week.
I will visit you sometime next week.
'sometimes' means 'occasionally'; 'sometime' refers to an unspecified point in time.

sometime — adjective

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

These four forms are among the most commonly confused in English. 'Sometime' (one word, adverb) points to an unspecified moment in time — past or future: 'Let's meet sometime next month.' 'Sometimes' (with a final -s) means 'occasionally, from time to time': 'I sometimes walk to work when the weather is nice.' 'Some time' (two separate words) refers to a duration or period rather than a point: 'It took some time to repair the computer.' 'Eventually' always looks to the future and suggests that something happens after a delay or a series of events: 'After looking for an hour, she eventually found her keys.' A quick test: if you can replace the word with 'at some point,' pick 'sometime'; if 'occasionally' fits, pick 'sometimes'; if 'a period of time' works, use 'some time.'

sometime ↗sometimes ↗some timeeventually ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • sometime president
  • sometime professor
  • sometime director

Adverbs

  • sometime soon
  • sometime later
  • sometime around
  • sometime before

Phrases

  • sometime or other
  • sometime next week
  • sometime in the past
  • sometime in the future

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

From Middle English 'sum tyme' (meaning 'at some time'), formed from Old English 'sum' (some) and 'tīma' (time). The adjectival sense of 'former' developed in the 16th century, coming from the adverbial use 'at one time in the past.'