In the past
Long time ago and in the past are semantically related. In some cases you can use "Long time ago" instead an adverb phrase "In the past".
Long time ago
In the past and long time ago are semantically related. Sometimes you can use "In the past" instead an adverb phrase "Long time ago".
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
- back and in the past
- back and long time ago
- then and in the past
- then and long time ago
- before and in the past
- before and long time ago
- earlier and in the past
- earlier and long time ago
- previously and in the past
- previously and long time ago
- long ago and in the past
- long ago and long time ago
- formerly and in the past
- formerly and long time ago
Both terms in one sentence
- A comedy trope, in which a character buys, sells, or consumes food products that expired a comically long time ago, years, decades, or even centuries in the past.
Source: Way Past the Expiration Date -
Occasionally they occur in the past, A Long Time Ago, in a Galaxy Far Far Away..., since decimated by some catastrophe with perhaps a single surviving Advanced Ancient Acropolis.
Source: Crystal Spires and Togas - One of the 1977 taglines of the original Star Wars, now known as A New Hope, was "No legendary adventure of the past could be as exciting as this romance of the future." Ironically, Star Wars actually is set in the past: "A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away..."
Source: Never Trust A Trailer / Film
Cite this Source
Long time ago and In the past. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 02, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/in_the_past/long_time_ago
In the past & Long time ago. N.p., 2016. Web. 02 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/in_the_past/long_time_ago>.
Long time ago or In the past. 2016. Accessed August 02, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/in_the_past/long_time_ago.
