ago
ago
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "ago" is /əˈɡoʊ/.
a-: /ə/ (schwa, unstressed)
-go: /ɡoʊ/ (hard 'g' sound followed by a long 'o' sound, stressed)
Word Form Variations
"Ago" is an adverb and does not have variations for singular/plural, tense, or degrees of comparison like adjectives or verbs. It remains "ago" regardless of the context.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adverb
Definition 1: Referring to a period of time in the past, counted backward from the present moment.
Synonyms: back, previously, earlier, since
Antonyms: hence, forward, in the future, later
Definition 2: Indicating a specified duration that has passed since a particular event or point in time.
Synonyms: beforehand, aforetime, in the past
Antonyms: soon, presently, next, upcoming
Examples of Use
Books:
"It was a dark and stormy night, many years ago, when the old mansion stood abandoned on the hill." (From a hypothetical classic novel)
"The first edition of this groundbreaking theory was published nearly two decades ago, revolutionizing the field of quantum physics." (From a hypothetical academic text)
Newspapers:
"The city council approved the new zoning regulations just two weeks ago, sparking both praise and controversy among residents." (From a hypothetical local newspaper article)
"Reports emerged a few days ago detailing a significant increase in international trade for the region." (From a hypothetical national newspaper article)
Online Publications:
"This viral video, which first surfaced several months ago, continues to captivate audiences with its heartwarming message." (From a hypothetical online news or entertainment site)
"Just an hour ago, a major cybersecurity breach was reported, affecting millions of user accounts worldwide." (From a hypothetical tech news website)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film/TV Dialogue: "I saw him just a moment ago by the fountain. He was looking for you." (From a hypothetical movie or TV show)
Song Lyrics: "It feels like only yesterday, but it was so long ago / When we danced beneath the stars, and let our young love grow." (From a hypothetical song lyric)
Video Game Dialogue: "The ancient prophecy spoke of a hero who would arrive a thousand years ago, but none have appeared." (From a hypothetical video game narrative)
Podcast: "On our last episode, we discussed the economic trends that shaped the early 2000s, focusing on decisions made twenty years ago." (From a hypothetical podcast transcript)
Social Media Post: "Just cooked this delicious pasta dish! I posted a similar recipe a few weeks ago – check it out on my blog!" (From a hypothetical food blogger's Instagram caption)
General Public Discourse:
"I heard a really interesting story on the radio a while ago about a group of scientists studying deep-sea creatures." (Spoken in casual conversation)
"My computer crashed an hour ago, and I lost all my unsaved work!" (Spoken in a frustrated tone)
"Do you remember that concert we went to last year? It feels like just yesterday, but it was a whole year ago." (Spoken in a reminiscent tone)
10 Famous Quotes Using Ago
"A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...." (Opening crawl of Star Wars films)
"Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal." (Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address)
"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.' I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today!" (Martin Luther King Jr., "I Have a Dream" speech, delivered 62 years ago)
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance." (Franklin D. Roosevelt, First Inaugural Address, delivered 92 years ago)
"Yesterday is but today's memory, and tomorrow is today's dream." (Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet, published 101 years ago - metaphorical use of 'yesterday' to imply 'ago')
"When you are courting a nice girl an hour seems like a second. When you sit on a red-hot cinder a second seems like an hour. That's relativity." (Albert Einstein, widely attributed, though exact source and wording vary)
"I took a deep breath and listened to the old brag of my heart. I am, I am, I am." (Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar, published 62 years ago - while not using 'ago', it evokes a sense of a past realization)
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way – in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only." (Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities, published 166 years ago - establishes a past time frame without explicitly using "ago")
"The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated." (Mark Twain, c. 1897, upon reading his own obituary, 128 years ago)
"I regret that I have but one life to give for my country." (Nathan Hale, attributed before his execution during the American Revolutionary War, 248 years ago)
Etymology
The word "ago" has a straightforward and interesting journey through the English language.
It comes from the Old English word "agone" or "agon," which was actually the past participle of the verb "go." Think of it like how "gone" is the past participle of "go" today. So, literally, "agone" meant "passed" or "gone by."
The first known use of "agone" as we understand "ago" today, meaning "in the past" or "back in time from now," dates back to the 13th century. For example, someone might have said "three days agone," meaning "three days passed" or "three days gone by."
Over time, particularly by the 14th century, the "a-" prefix started to be separated from "gone," and "ago" began to be used as a standalone adverb, the way we use it now. The meaning remained consistent: to refer to a specific amount of time in the past, counted backwards from the present moment. So, when you say "five years ago," you're essentially saying "five years passed."
Phrases + Idioms Containing Ago
"Ago" is primarily a functional word indicating past time, so it doesn't form many unique idioms in the same way more descriptive words do. However, here's a list that includes common uses, variations that create idiomatic expressions, and some with synonyms for similar effect:
Long ago: A common phrase meaning a considerable time in the past.
Not long ago: Meaning a recent time in the past.
A while ago: Meaning some unspecified amount of time in the past, but usually not extremely long.
Ages ago: An informal, emphatic way of saying "a very long time ago."
Years ago/Months ago/Weeks ago/Days ago/Hours ago/Minutes ago: Standard phrases indicating a specific duration in the past.
Eons ago: A hyperbolic way to say "an extremely long time ago."
Just now/A moment ago: (Using synonyms for "ago" to convey recency) Meaning very recently.
Once upon a time: (Idiom implying "a long time ago") Used to begin traditional stories.
In days gone by: (Idiom with a similar meaning to "long ago") Referring to a period in the past.
Back in the day: (Informal idiom with a similar meaning to "long ago") Referring to a past era, often with a nostalgic tone.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of ago from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
