a sign of the times
noun phrase
: something that shows the kinds of things that are happening, popular, important, etc., in a culture at a particular period in history
Having metal detectors in schools is a sign of the times.
Examples of a sign of the times in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Perhaps a sign of the times, but some of the quieter moments that soften this hard look at life feel neglected.
—
Matthew J. Palm, Orlando Sentinel, 26 June 2024
This fixation on male superiority was a sign of the times not just in academia but in society at large.
—Cara Ocobock, Scientific American, 1 Nov. 2023
Beckham's collaboration called back to '90s-era fashion, and the on-court superstar joined for photos as a sign of the times gone by.
—Zoey Lyttle, Peoplemag, 3 June 2024
Lewis — consciously or not, solely or not, maybe just as a sign of the times — succeeded in getting Oppenheimer canceled.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2024
Is that a sign of the times and past attitudes toward domestic violence or is there a deeper reality at play?
—Brande Victorian, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2024
And in a sign of the times, the bill has been updated since last year to include protections against the use of artificial intelligence.
—Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 9 Feb. 2024
The Look: Embellished dusters, crazy jeans, wild hair: pretty much a sign of the times.
—Alex Apatoff, Peoplemag, 26 Aug. 2023
In a sign of the times, Marley & The Wailers all record in one room simultaneously in the clip, as opposed to isolating vocals and instrumentals as is commonly done now.
—Katie Atkinson, Billboard, 26 Jan. 2024
Matthew J. Palm, Orlando Sentinel, 26 June 2024
This fixation on male superiority was a sign of the times not just in academia but in society at large.
—Cara Ocobock, Scientific American, 1 Nov. 2023
Beckham's collaboration called back to '90s-era fashion, and the on-court superstar joined for photos as a sign of the times gone by.
—Zoey Lyttle, Peoplemag, 3 June 2024
Lewis — consciously or not, solely or not, maybe just as a sign of the times — succeeded in getting Oppenheimer canceled.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2024
Is that a sign of the times and past attitudes toward domestic violence or is there a deeper reality at play?
—Brande Victorian, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2024
And in a sign of the times, the bill has been updated since last year to include protections against the use of artificial intelligence.
—Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 9 Feb. 2024
The Look: Embellished dusters, crazy jeans, wild hair: pretty much a sign of the times.
—Alex Apatoff, Peoplemag, 26 Aug. 2023
In a sign of the times, Marley & The Wailers all record in one room simultaneously in the clip, as opposed to isolating vocals and instrumentals as is commonly done now.
—Katie Atkinson, Billboard, 26 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'a sign of the times.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near a sign of the times
Cite this Entry
“A sign of the times.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20sign%20of%20the%20times. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
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