# X years ago

idiom · CEFR A1

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/x-years-ago
Updated: 2026-04-22

## Meaning

This phrase tells you when something happened in the past. You use a time period like 'two days' or 'ten years' before 'ago' to say how long before now it was.

## Examples

- I moved to this city five years ago.
- She started learning to play the piano three years ago and now she performs in concerts.
- The ancient ruins were discovered by explorers many years ago, yet they still hold secrets that historians struggle to interpret.

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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.