17 Other Ways to Say a Long Time Ago (With Examples)

You are likely looking for fresh phrases because using the same old words gets boring very quickly. If you want to improve your writing, learning other ways to say a long time ago is a great first step. Let’s look at some super simple and fun options that will make your stories sound much more interesting and natural to anyone who reads them today.

17 Other Ways to Say a Long Time Ago (With Examples)

Back in the Day

This is a very common phrase that people use when they are talking about their own past. It feels warm and friendly because it reminds people of the good times they had when they were much younger. You can use it to talk about old music, school memories, or how things used to be cheaper. It is perfect for casual talks with your friends or family members while you are sitting around and sharing some old stories.

Back in the day, we played outside.
Computers were huge back in the day.
Life was simpler back in the day.
We loved that song back in the day.
Back in the day, gas was cheap.
Everyone wore hats back in the day.

Once Upon a Time

Almost everyone knows this famous phrase from the storybooks they read as little children. It creates a magical feeling right away and tells the reader that a big adventure is about to start. While it is mostly for fairy tales about kings and queens, you can use it to be funny or dramatic. It suggests that the events happened in a distant past that feels almost like a dream or a very old legend to us.

Once upon a time, a dragon lived.
Once upon a time, kings ruled land.
They lived happily once upon a time.
Once upon a time, magic was real.
A brave girl lived once upon time.
Once upon a time, giants walked here.

Ages Ago

When you want to say that something happened such a long time ago that you can barely remember the details, this is the best choice. It sounds a bit more dramatic than just saying many years. It implies that so much time has passed that the world might even feel like a different place now. Use this when you are talking about an old friend you have not seen since you were a small child.

I met him many ages ago now.
We went to that park ages ago.
That movie came out many ages ago.
I finished that book many ages ago.
Ages ago, this town was very small.
She moved to London many ages ago.

In the Olden Days

This phrase sounds a little bit old fashioned and sweet at the same time. People often use it when they are talking to children about how life worked before modern technology like the internet or smartphones existed. It paints a picture of a world with horses, carriages, and paper letters. It is a very polite and gentle way to describe history without using hard words or boring dates that might confuse some younger people.

People used horses in the olden days.
In the olden days, we wrote letters.
No one had phones in olden days.
In the olden days, lamps used oil.
Kids played with wood in olden days.
In the olden days, clothes were handmade.

Way Back When

If you want to sound very relaxed and conversational, this is a fantastic phrase to use in your writing. It suggests a time that is far in the past but still feels connected to your own life or history. It is often used to start a sentence before describing a specific memory or a historical fact. This phrase makes your audience feel like they are sitting right next to you listening to a great story.

Way back when, I had long hair.
We were best friends way back when.
Way back when, this was all fields.
I worked at that shop way back.
Way back when, we had no TV.
My dad was a pilot way back.

Years and Years Ago

Sometimes, simply repeating a word can make your point much stronger and clearer for the reader. By saying the word years twice, you are really emphasizing just how much time has actually gone by. It is a very easy way to show that a story is not about last week or last month. This phrase is perfect for beginners because it uses very basic words that every single person can understand without any help at all.

I lived in Spain years and years ago.
Years and years ago, dinosaurs roamed earth.
That bridge was built years and years ago.
Years and years ago, my house burned.
I lost my favorite ring years ago.
Years and years ago, we were young.

In Times Past

This phrase is a bit more formal but still very easy to understand. It is often found in history books or during serious speeches about how things used to be. It refers to a general period before the present day. It sounds respectful and thoughtful. You can use it when you want to compare the problems of today with the different challenges that people had to face in the earlier parts of our long human history.

In times past, travel was very slow.
People worked hard in all times past.
In times past, kings made every law.
Hunting was vital in many times past.
In times past, doctors used strange herbs.
Writing was rare in many times past.

Since the Dawn of Time

If you want to be very dramatic and talk about something that has always been true, use this powerful expression. It suggests that something started at the very beginning of the world. While it is an exaggeration, it is a fun way to say that an idea or a habit is extremely old. Use it when you are talking about things like love, war, or the way humans have always looked up at the stars at night.

Men have fought since dawn of time.
Since the dawn of time, fire burned.
Humans have told stories since time began.
Since the dawn of time, stars shone.
Animals have migrated since dawn of time.
Since the dawn of time, water flowed.

In Bygone Days

This is a beautiful and slightly poetic way to talk about the past. The word bygone means things that have gone away or ended. It carries a little bit of sadness or nostalgia for a time that will never come back again. It is a great choice if you are writing a story about an abandoned house or a city that has changed a lot over the years. It sounds very smart but remains very simple to read.

In bygone days, ships used large sails.
Peace was common in those bygone days.
In bygone days, silk was very costly.
Magic felt real in those bygone days.
In bygone days, people lived off land.
Honor was everything in those bygone days.

Decades Ago

A decade is a period of ten years, so saying this tells the reader that the event happened at least twenty or thirty years in the past. It is a bit more specific than just saying a long time. It is a useful phrase when you are talking about things like old technology or fashion trends from the nineteen eighties or nineties. It sounds clear and professional while still being very easy for everyone to understand during a normal conversation.

My parents got married many decades ago.
That factory closed down many decades ago.
Decades ago, disco music was very popular.
I visited that island many decades ago.
Decades ago, the world felt much bigger.
These trees were planted many decades ago.

In the Mists of Time

This is a very creative way to say that something happened so long ago that it is now hard to remember clearly. It creates an image of a thick fog or mist hiding the past from our eyes. It is often used for legends or ancient history where we do not know the exact dates or names. It adds a sense of mystery and wonder to your writing that will surely grab the attention of your readers.

The city was lost in mists of time.
Legends began in the dark mists of time.
Their names died in mists of time.
In mists of time, gods walked earth.
That secret stayed in mists of time.
History started in the mists of time.

In Days of Yore

The word yore is an old English word that simply means the past. When you combine it with days, you get a phrase that sounds like it belongs in a story about knights, castles, and brave heroes. It is a very classic way to open a story or describe a scene from the middle ages. Even though the word is old, most people know exactly what it means because it appears so often in movies and fantasy books.

Knights fought dragons in days of yore.
In days of yore, castles were strong.
Bards sang songs in days of yore.
In days of yore, queens wore gold.
Swords were sharp in days of yore.
In days of yore, forests were deep.

Since Way Back

This is a very informal and slangy way to talk about the past. You might hear people say this when they are talking about a long friendship or a habit they have had since they were kids. It feels very friendly and relaxed. It is not something you would use in a formal essay, but it is perfect for a blog post or a text message to a close friend. It shows a strong and lasting connection.

We have been friends since way back.
I liked that band since way back.
She lived here since way back when.
Since way back, I loved to paint.
He knew the truth since way back.
We played soccer since way back then.

From Time Immemorial

This phrase is used to describe something that has been happening for so long that no one alive can remember when it actually started. It is often used in legal documents or when talking about the traditions of a group of people. It sounds very grand and official. It is a great way to show respect for a custom or a law that has existed for hundreds or even thousands of years without any changes.

They farmed here from time immemorial now.
From time immemorial, the sun has risen.
Tribes moved here from many times immemorial.
From time immemorial, we honored our elders.
Laws existed since from many times immemorial.
From time immemorial, birds have flown south.

Eons Ago

In science, an eon is a very, very long period of time, like millions of years. However, in everyday talk, people use it as an exaggeration to mean a long time. You might say you ate lunch eons ago if you are feeling very hungry. It is a fun and slightly silly way to talk. It makes your writing feel more alive and shows that you have a good sense of humor about the passing of time.

Dinosaurs walked the earth many eons ago.
I sent that email many eons ago.
Eons ago, the earth was very hot.
We met at that party eons ago.
Eons ago, I was a little boy.
That star died many long eons ago.

Before Your Time

This is a specific phrase you use when you are talking to someone younger than you. It means that something happened before they were born or before they were old enough to remember it. It is a helpful way to explain why they might not recognize a famous person, a type of music, or an old piece of technology. It is a very common expression used by parents and teachers all over the world today.

That singer was popular before your time.
We used pagers way before your time.
Before your time, this mall was new.
Those movies came out before your time.
Before your time, people used paper maps.
I traveled there long before your time.

In Ancient Times

When you use this phrase, you are usually talking about thousands of years ago. It brings to mind things like the pyramids in Egypt or the old buildings in Rome. It is very clear and direct. Use this when you want to talk about the history of humans before the modern world began. It is a very simple way to set the stage for a story about the very first people who lived on our big green planet.

In ancient times, people built great walls.
Romans lived in those far ancient times.
In ancient times, people studied the stars.
Writing began in those very ancient times.
In ancient times, many gods were worshiped.
Pyramids were built in those ancient times.

Final Thoughts

I hope you found this list helpful for your future writing projects. Using other ways to say a word makes your stories much more colorful and fun to read for everyone. You can now choose the best phrase that fits your specific mood or the story you are trying to tell. Experimenting with different words is the fastest way to become a better communicator. Thank you for reading my tips today and I wish you the best of luck with writing!