# a long time ago

idiom · CEFR A2

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/a-long-time-ago
Updated: 2026-04-22

## Meaning

This means something happened many years or centuries in the past.

## Examples

- I lived in that city a long time ago.
- My grandfather told me stories about his childhood, which happened a long time ago.
- The ancient ruins stood as a silent reminder of a civilization that flourished a long time ago, long before modern cities existed.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.