sometime
- 01 B1 Intermediate
adv.at a time that you do not know exactly, or have not decided yet.
adv.at an indefinite or unstated point in time, typically referring to the future but occasionally the past.
Simple“We should get together for coffee sometime next week.”
In context“The report was published sometime last year, though the exact month remains a matter of debate among the committee members.”
UsageUsually placed after the verb or at the end of a clause when referring to the future.
- 02 C1 Advanced
adj.having been something in the past; former.
adj.having formerly held a particular role or status; erstwhile.
Simple“The sometime captain of the team returned to watch the final match.”
In context“The essay was written by a sometime professor of linguistics who had since turned his attention to political activism.”
UsageUsed only before a noun to describe a previous state or profession.
- 03 C2 Proficiency
adj.happening now and then, but not regularly.
adj.occurring or acting occasionally or intermittently.
Simple“He was a sometime visitor to the small island during the summer.”
In context“Her sometime interest in photography occasionally resulted in stunning portraits, though she rarely picked up her camera for months at a time.”
Synonyms
sometime vs sometimes vs some time — Sometime is a point in time, sometimes is a frequency, and some time is a duration.
From Middle English somtyme, som time, some tyme, sume time, sumtym, sumtyme, equivalent to some + time.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.