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
Progress, to be sure, but also a sign of the times for more than a decade in Gainesville.
—
Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 July 2025
Staff turnover a ‘chance to really analyze what’s worked’
In a sign of the times, where the transfer portal waits for no one, Duke lost one of its assistant coaches before last season ended.
—Brendan Marks, New York Times, 9 July 2025
And, too often, this exhaustion gets mistaken as just a sign of the times.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
Meanwhile, social media commenters are interpreting the shift as a sign of the times.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for a sign of the times
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Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 July 2025
Staff turnover a ‘chance to really analyze what’s worked’
In a sign of the times, where the transfer portal waits for no one, Duke lost one of its assistant coaches before last season ended.
—Brendan Marks, New York Times, 9 July 2025
And, too often, this exhaustion gets mistaken as just a sign of the times.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
Meanwhile, social media commenters are interpreting the shift as a sign of the times.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for 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 Aug. 2025.
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