sometime

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "sometime" is correct and usable in written English.
It is an adverb which means at an unspecified or unknown time in the future. You can use it when speaking about a future event that you are not sure when will take place. For example: "We will meet sometime next week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Try it sometime.

The New York Times - Sports

flutterby asks about his thoughts on Englishness: As a (sometime) immigrant, how did you find life here compared to the States?

The Guardian

Sometime in the middle of the night, the television turns back on, the lights flash open and the taps start running again.

The Guardian - Travel

Thank you for your enthusiasm! moxy25 says: I hope you can change it to 'football' sometime soon!

The Guardian

After a rough midweek for MLS ambitions at the hands of Mexican teams, it's back to domestic action as MLS gears up for week three — where perhaps we'll see the first frontrunners for the honor of being beaten up on south of the border sometime in spring 2016.

The Guardian - Sport

The only important variable is when that moment comes; I'm betting that Rand hopes it lasts until sometime in the fall of 2015.

The Guardian - Opinion

Two weeks ago, I belatedly started reading Mammon's Kingdom, an extended essay about the modern British condition by the political philosopher and sometime MP David Marquand.

The Guardian - Opinion

The usually biting BBC programme remembered its sometime presenter and panellist by showing clips of his early and latest appearances.

The Guardian

The hair pyramid and sometime Freedom Commissioner is lead vocal.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

discohealthclub.com 8. Rebounding There was a point sometime in the mid-80s when a mini-trampoline, or rebounder, was the fitness accessory du jour.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The current iteration of the character has the alter-ego Carol Danvers, a sometime US Air Force pilot who develops cosmic superpowers including flight, super-strength and "energy projection" after gaining extraterrestrial DNA during an accident on a restricted military base.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sometime" when you want to indicate that an event will occur in the future but the exact timing is not known or not important. For instance, "I will visit you sometime next month."

Common error

Avoid using "sometime" when you mean "sometimes". "Sometime" refers to a single, unspecified point in time, while "sometimes" indicates occasional occurrences. For example, don't say "I sometime go to the park" when you mean "I sometimes go to the park".

Linguistic Context

The adverb "sometime" functions to indicate an unspecified or indefinite time, either in the future or the past. It modifies a verb or clause by adding a temporal element without specifying the exact moment. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Formal & Business

21%

Science

21%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adverb "sometime" is a versatile term used to denote an unspecified time, either in the future or the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and appropriate for various contexts. It’s crucial to differentiate it from "sometimes" and "some time" to avoid usage errors. You can also use alternatives like "eventually", "at some point", or "sooner or later" based on context. Based on the analyzed sources, "sometime" appears most frequently in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science sources, which underscores its broad applicability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

At some point

Indicates an unspecified time, similar to "sometime" but with a slightly more formal tone.

Eventually

Suggests that something will happen after a period of time, unlike "sometime" which does not specify duration.

At an unspecified time

More verbose and formal, explicitly stating the lack of a set time, whereas "sometime" implies it.

Sooner or later

Emphasizes the inevitability of an event happening, whereas "sometime" is more neutral.

At some future time

Similar to "at some point", but more explicitly referring to the future, unlike "sometime" that can also refer to the past.

At a later date

More formal and specific, implying a planned but not yet scheduled event, while "sometime" is more casual.

One day

More whimsical and less precise than "sometime", implying a future possibility.

In due course

Suggests that something will happen when the time is right, carrying a sense of natural progression, unlike the more neutral "sometime".

Down the line

Implies a point further in the future, adding a sense of distance compared to "sometime".

In the future

A broader and more general reference to any point beyond the present, lacking the imprecision of "sometime".

FAQs

How do you use "sometime" in a sentence?

Use "sometime" to refer to an unspecified time in the future or past. For example, "Let's meet "sometime next week"" or "I saw her "sometime last year"".

What is the difference between "sometime", "sometimes", and "some time"?

"Sometime" is an adverb indicating an unspecified time. "Sometimes" is an adverb meaning occasionally. "Some time" is a noun phrase referring to a period of time.

What can I say instead of "sometime" when referring to the future?

You can use alternatives like "eventually", "at some point", or "sooner or later" depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "sometime" to refer to a past event?

Yes, "sometime" can refer to an unspecified time in the past. For example, "I met him "sometime ago"" is grammatically correct.