over the years

idiom
UK: /ˌəʊvə ðə ˈjɪəz/
US: /ˌoʊvər ðə ˈjɪrz/

  1. During a long period of time; as time passes.

    1. She has gotten wiser over the years. [ ] [ ]
    2. Over the years, they have amassed a sizable collection of rare books. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

eventually in the course of time with time
over the years adverb

  1. As time went by; gradually through the passage of years.

    1. My skills improved over the years. [ ] [ ]
    2. Over the years, the small village transformed into a bustling town due to tourism. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The phonetic transcription of "over the years" is /ˌəʊvə ðə ˈjɪəz/ in British English and /ˌoʊvər ðə ˈjɪrz/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "over the years": eventually, in the course of time, with time.

Example usage of "over the years": "She has gotten wiser over the years.". More examples on the page.