syne

adverb

ˈsīn How to pronounce syne (audio)
Definition of synenext
chiefly Scottish
as in ago
earlier than the present time a poem by Robert Louis Stevenson that begins with "From the bonny bells of heather / They brewed a drink long syne"

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for syne
ago
Adverb
  • The plague bacterium appears to have emerged as a human pathogen more than 5,700 years ago, evolving from a soil bacterium called Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, says Hendrick Poinar, a biologist at McMaster University, who works with ancient DNA.
    — Faye Flam, Scientific American, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Only two decades ago, my family looked West for a treatment for my grandmother that was unavailable in China.
    — Ruby Wang, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of ago
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Phrases Containing syne

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syndromes
syne
synergetic
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Cite this Entry

“Syne.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/syne. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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