decades

Meanings

1. 1nounplural

   Periods of ten years, especially when talking about history or a long time.

   Grammar: Plural of 'decade'. Use with plural verbs: decades pass. Often followed by 'of'.

   Patterns

   • decades of something
   • for decades
   • over the decades
   • in recent decades

   The city has changed greatly over the past few decades.

   Scientists have studied the climate for decades.

   In recent decades, the internet has transformed how we communicate.

2. 2nounplural

   A particular set of ten years, such as the 1990s, thought of as a period with its own style or events.

   Grammar: Used with 'the' and a number: the 1980s. When speaking about a specific decade, the plural is still used.

   Patterns

   • the 1990s
   • the decades after the war

   The music of the 1960s and 1970s still influences artists today.

   The decades following the war saw rapid economic growth.

Word forms

Common combinations

for decades

The two families have been friends for decades.

over the decades

The building has been repaired many times over the decades.

in recent decades

In recent decades, more women have entered the workforce.

decades of experience

She has decades of experience in teaching.

Synonyms and how they differ

years

Years is less exact; decades specifically means periods of ten years and often suggests a very long time.

generations

Generations refers to people born around the same time; decades is a plain time measurement.

Word family

decade noun

A period of ten years.

decadal adjective

Relating to a period of ten years, used in technical writing.

Commonly confused: decades or decade?

Practice

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