You use sometime to refer to a time in the future or the past that is unknown or that has not yet been decided.
The sales figures won't be released until sometime next month.
Why don't you come and see me sometime?
I'm aiming to get to work by nine sometime.
I really want to go to Spain sometime.
Synonyms: some day, one day, at some point in the future, sooner or later More Synonyms of sometime
2. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
You use sometime to describe a job or role that a person used to have.
Cecile was in her early thirties, a sometime actress, dancer and singer.
Synonyms: former, one-time, erstwhile, ex- More Synonyms of sometime
sometime in British English
(ˈsʌmˌtaɪm)
adverb
1.
at some unspecified point of time
adjective
2. (prenominal)
having been at one time; former
the sometime President
3. (prenominal) US
occasional; infrequent
▶ USAGE The form sometime should not be used to refer to a fairly long period of time: he has been away for some time (not for sometime)
sometime in American English
(ˈsʌmˌtaɪm)
adverb
1.
at some time not known or specified
2.
at some unspecified time in the future
3. Archaic
a.
sometimes
b.
formerly
adjective
4.
former; erstwhile
her sometime friend
5.
merely occasional; sporadic
his wit is a sometime thing
Examples of 'sometime' in a sentence
sometime
He died sometime after we left and the police report said it was an overdose.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Sometime soon their views on matters constitutional could become critical.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Sometime in the next year we will discuss what happens afterwards.
The Sun (2015)
They are mostly about the rural poor sometime in the early twentieth century.
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)
She must go and see her sometime.
Paige, Frances The Glasgow Girls (1994)
We hoard tins and bottles and all sorts of things that might sometime come in handy.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Maybe you can all be friends again sometime soon.
The Sun (2013)
Sometime during the next century the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is expected to double.
Radford, Tim & Leggett, Jeremy The Crisis of Life on Earth - our legacy from the second millenium (1990)
It should be on our screens sometime in early spring.
The Sun (2006)
Sometime last year, my bones began to produce an increasing number of mutant white cells.
Christianity Today (2000)
Sometime you have got to get off the merry-go-round.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
You'd love it if you could have a change of scene sometime soon.
The Sun (2015)
Everyone has to go sometime.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Hope I’ll see him again sometime.
Louisa May Alcott Little Men (1871)
And with derivative prices suggesting the low point to be sometime next year, the worst may very well be behind us.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
If a keeper wants to save one sometime, then we'll see.
The Sun (2012)
Sometime after midday, we drive to a village near Godalming.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
sometime
British English: sometime /ˈsʌmˌtaɪm/ ADVERB
You use sometime to talk about a time in the future or the past that is not known.
We'll meet again sometime.
American English: sometime
Arabic: يَوْماً مَا
Brazilian Portuguese: um dia desses
Chinese: 某时
Croatian: nekada
Czech: někdy
Danish: engang
Dutch: ooit
European Spanish: en algún momento
Finnish: joskus
French: à un moment donné
German: irgendwann
Greek: κάποτε
Italian: un giorno
Japanese: いつか
Korean: 언젠가
Norwegian: en eller annen gang
Polish: kiedyś
European Portuguese: um dia destes
Romanian: cândva
Russian: когда-нибудь
Latin American Spanish: en algún momento
Swedish: någon gång
Thai: บางเวลา
Turkish: bir ara
Ukrainian: колись
Vietnamese: vào lúc nào đó
Chinese translation of 'sometime'
sometime
(ˈsʌmtaɪm)
adv
某个(個)时(時)候 (mǒugè shíhòu)
请勿将 sometimes 和 sometime 混淆。sometimes 表示某事物只发生在某些时候，而不是总是发生。 Do you visit your sister? — Sometimes ... Sometimes I wish I still lived in Australia.sometimes 还可以表示某事物发生在特定情况下，而不是在任何情况下都会发生。 Sometimes they stay for a week, sometimes just for the weekend.sometime 表示未来或过去某个不确定或未指明的时间。 Can I come and see you sometime? ... He started his new job sometime last month.
(adverb)
Definition
at some unspecified point of time
Why don't you come and see me sometime?
Synonyms
some day
one day
at some point in the future
sooner or later
one of these days
by and by
By and by the light gradually grew fainter.
(adjective)
Definition
former
She was in her early thirties, a sometime actress, dancer and singer.
Synonyms
former
I learned from my former boss that it was fun to work.
one-time
a one-time officer in the Royal Navy
erstwhile
He is suing his erstwhile friend and business partner.
ex-
late
my late husband
past
My past life seems like a dream now.
previous
They had brought their furniture from their previous house.
Usage note
Sometime as a single word should only be used to refer to an unspecified point in time. When referring to a considerable length of time, you should use some time. Compare: It was some time after, that the rose garden was planted, i.e. after a considerable period of time, with It was sometime after the move that the rose garden was planted, i.e. at some unspecified point after the move, but not necessarily a long time after.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of by and by
Definition
presently or eventually
By and by the light gradually grew fainter.
Synonyms
presently,
shortly,
soon,
eventually,
one day,
before long,
in a while,
anon (archaic, literary),
in the course of time,
erelong (archaic, poetic)
in the sense of erstwhile
Definition
former
He is suing his erstwhile friend and business partner.
Synonyms
former,
old,
late,
previous,
once,
past,
ex (informal),
one-time,
sometime,
bygone,
quondam
in the sense of late
Definition
having died recently
my late husband
Synonyms
dead,
deceased,
departed (euphemistic),
passed on,
old,
former,
previous,
preceding,
defunct,
L8
Synonyms of 'sometime'
sometime
Explore 'sometime' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of one-time
Definition
at some time in the past
a one-time officer in the Royal Navy
Synonyms
former,
previous,
prior,
sometime,
late,
erstwhile,
quondam,
ci-devant,
ex-
in the sense of past
Definition
former
My past life seems like a dream now.
Synonyms
previous,
former,
one-time,
sometime,
erstwhile,
quondam,
ex-
in the sense of previous
Definition
coming or happening before
They had brought their furniture from their previous house.