| 100% | YEARSAGO | 8 | A long time in the past (2 wds.) |
| 97% | AGESAGO | 7 | A very long time in the past: 2 wds. |
| 64% | TILESETTER | 10 | One spending a long time in the bathroom? |
| 63% | JANEFONDA | 9 | Actress who's costarred with Robert Redford four times in the past 50 years, most recently in "Our Souls at Night": 2 wds. |
| 62% | AGESAGO | 7 | Way in the past: 2 wds. |
| 62% | YEARSAGO | 8 | Way back in the past: 2 wds. |
| 62% | AGESAGO | 7 | Way back in the past: 2 wds. |
| 62% | WERE | 4 | A time in the past |
| 60% | AWHILEAGO | 9 | Some time in the distant past: 3 wds. |
| 60% | ONEDAY | 6 | Some time in the future: 2 wds. |
| 58% | ONCE | 4 | At a time in the past |
| 58% | ITWAS | 5 | "___ a long time ago that we last met...": 2 wds. |
| 58% | AGESAGO | 7 | A long, long time back: 2 wds. |
| 58% | AGO | 3 | Many moons ___ (long time in the past) |
| 56% | ERA | 3 | Victorian ___, a time long past where you'd see the etiquette outlined in 20a, 27a, 40a, 1d, 38d and 48d |
| 56% | LOBS | 4 | Tennis shots that spend a long time up in the air |
| 56% | NOSEE | 5 | Long time ___ (not met for a while): 2 wds. |
| 56% | ALA | 3 | In the style of, on a menu: 2 wds. |
| 56% | ALA | 3 | In the manner of, on a menu: 2 wds. |
| 55% | PANOUT | 6 | Succeed in the end, like a scheme: 2 wds. |
| 55% | ASA | 3 | Words in the middle of a simile: 2 wds. |
| 55% | OLDFOGY | 7 | Dude stuck in the past (2 wds.) |
| 55% | ATAN | 4 | ___ earlier date (in the past): 2 wds. |
| 54% | AUSTINBUTLER | 12 | "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" actor who starred as Elvis Presley in the 2022 biopic "Elvis": 2 wds. |
| 54% | ALINE | 5 | Draw ___ in the sand (set a firm limit): 2 wds. |
| 54% | ATOE | 4 | Put ___ in the water (try for a bit): 2 wds. |
| 54% | AGO | 3 | Time in the past |
| 54% | JAMESWOODS | 10 | "Once Upon a Time in America" actor who was the voice of villainous Hades in Disney's "Hercules": 2 wds. |
| 54% | NOSAY | 5 | Have ___ in the matter (be irrelevant to a decision): 2 wds. |
| 53% | YORE | 4 | Time in the past, poetically |