since

[sins] /sɪns/
adverb
1.
from then till now (often preceded by ever):
He was elected in 1978 and has been president ever since.
2.
between a particular past time and the present; subsequently:
She at first refused, but has since consented.
3.
ago; before now:
long since.
preposition
4.
continuously from or counting from:
It has been warm since noon.
5.
between a past time or event and the present:
There have been many changes since the war.
conjunction
6.
in the period following the time when:
He has written once since he left.
7.
continuously from or counting from the time when:
He has been busy since he came.
8.
because; inasmuch as:
Since you're already here, you might as well stay.
Origin
1400-50; late Middle English syns, sinnes (adv.) thereupon, afterwards, Middle English sithenes (adv. and conjunction) afterwards, from (the specified time), because, equivalent to sithen after that, since (Old English siththan, orig. sīth thām after that; see sith) + -es -s1
Synonyms
8. See because.
Usage note
8. See as1.
Examples from the web for since
  • Make sure the location has good drainage, since you don't want water to collect around the frame after every rain.
  • since oxygen is decreasing, temperature is gradually rising.
  • since cheaters are rarely caught red-handed, scientists devised a plan to catch them with the packaging inside their bodies.
  • Exercise might help do that since it can enhance mood.
  • The findings have since been applied in studies of aging, stem cells and cancer.
  • since they were installed, the suicide rate has slowed to a trickle.
  • Probably five per cent of it does, but as a whole it has no accent, since it is a composite of all in one.
  • This, though, predicts that the precise amount of time since the judge last ate will be what matters.
  • Which is fortunate, since small business need a little sympathy these days.
  • The pace of new hiring crashed during the recession and has scarcely recovered since.
British Dictionary definitions for since

since

/sɪns/
preposition
1.
during or throughout the period of time after: since May it has only rained once
conjunction (subordinating)
2.
(sometimes preceded by ever) continuously from or starting from the time when: since we last met, important things have happened
3.
seeing that; because: since you have no money, you can't come
adverb
4.
since that time: he left yesterday and I haven't seen him since
ago
Word Origin
Old English sīththan, literally: after that; related to Old High German sīd since, Latin sērus late
Word Origin and History for since
adv.

early 15c., synnes, from sithenes "since," from sithen (plus adverbial genitive -es), from Old English siððan "afterward, from now on, hereafter, further, later, as soon as, after that," originally sið ðan "after that," from sið "after" (see sith) + ðan, weakened form of ðam, dative of ðæt (see that).

As a conjunction from late 14c.; as a preposition from 1510s; "from the time when," hence "as a consequence of the fact that." Modern spelling replaced syns, synnes 16c. to indicate voiceless final -s- sound. Since when? often expressing incredulity, is from 1907.

Idioms and Phrases with since

since

see: greatest thing since sliced bread