history
noun
his·to·ry
ˈhi-st(ə-)rē 
plural histories
2
a
: a chronological record of significant events (such as those affecting a nation or institution) often including an explanation of their causes
a history of Japan
b
: a treatise presenting systematically related natural phenomena (as of geography, animals, or plants)
an illustrated history of North American birds
c
: an account of a patient's medical background
reviewing her medical history
d
: an established record
a prisoner with a history of violence
3
: a branch of knowledge that records and explains past events
medieval history
4
a
: events that form the subject matter of a history
the history of space exploration
b
: events of the past
History has shown that such efforts rarely succeed.
c
: one that is finished or done for
the winning streak was history
you're history
d
: previous treatment, handling, or experience (as of a metal)
a history of repeated exposure to freezing temperatures
Examples of history in a Sentence
I studied history in college.
a professor of medieval history
They were one of the greatest teams in history.
It was one of the most destructive storms in modern history.
It was a period in American history when most people lived and worked on farms.
The history of space exploration is a fascinating topic.
He wrote a well-known history of the British empire.
The book begins with a brief history of the Internet.
Recent Examples on the Web
For a writer of a book that’s politically informed and deals with culture and history, this creates a big problem.
—
Literary Hub, 4 Nov. 2025
Given our recent history, that seems like a risky thing to do.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Mesopotamians, the ancient inhabitants of the land between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, are credited for many firsts in human history, including writing, urbanism and the state.
—Serdar Yalçin, The Conversation, 3 Nov. 2025
The decades following their discovery were among the most productive and exciting in the history of science.
—James Somers, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for history
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Literary Hub, 4 Nov. 2025
Given our recent history, that seems like a risky thing to do.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Mesopotamians, the ancient inhabitants of the land between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, are credited for many firsts in human history, including writing, urbanism and the state.
—Serdar Yalçin, The Conversation, 3 Nov. 2025
The decades following their discovery were among the most productive and exciting in the history of science.
—James Somers, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for history
Cite this Entry
“History.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/history. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
history
noun
his·to·ry
ˈhis-t(ə-)rē
plural histories
1
: a story of real or imaginary events
2
a
: a written record of important events and their causes
b
: a branch of knowledge that records and explains past events
c
: events that form the topics of a history
Medical Definition
history
noun
his·to·ry
ˈhis-t(ə-)rē
plural histories
: an account of a patient's family and personal background and past and present health
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