ANCIENTLY Synonyms: 20 Similar and Opposite Words

anciently

adverb

Definition of anciently

as in previously

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Example Sentences

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Recent Examples of anciently Tell El-Fara’in, anciently known as Imet, was a significant urban and religious hub from the Middle Kingdom onward. — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 14 Sep. 2025 It was used anciently as a preservative, a seasoning, and medicinally for its antibacterial properties. — Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 2 Feb. 2024

Recent Examples of Synonyms for anciently

Adverb

In late December, Koop, Page’s family office, was converted out of California and incorporated in Delaware, Fortune’s Sasha Rogelberg previously reported.

— Sydney Lake, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
Testing autonomy at sea The three-and-a-half-hour exercise used a modified 368-ton unmanned surface vessel previously operated by the US Navy.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of previously

Adverb

But the tireless churn of his storytelling, picking up and depositing little clues of what came before, is the mark of an auteur who has barely scratched the surface of his prowess.

— Matthew Ritchie, Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2026
In fact, researchers have never seen 99 percent of the viruses discovered there before.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of before

Adverb

The games between the Indianapolis Clowns and the Party Animals are scheduled for June 25-26 at Fifth Third Park (formerly Comerica Park).

— DeJanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Kevin Roose, co-host of the upcoming NPR podcast Machine Gods, formerly The New York Times' Hard Fork, tracks the handful of characters racing to make AI a commercial reality.

— Cooper Katz McKim, NPR, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of formerly

Adverb

The latest demonstrations, held Saturday, encouraged Americans to vote early in the upcoming midterm elections.

— Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026
Some began working for Union Pacific as early as the 1950s, in jobs that included track maintenance, signal maintenance, conducting and engineering.

— Madison Smalstig, Sacbee.com, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of early

Adverb

Eons ago a star up to 30 times the mass of our sun collapsed and perished, forming a black hole.

— Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Japan's ties with China came under strain a year ago when Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Chinese military action on Taiwan could justify Japanese involvement.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026