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
The Ravens turned the ball over five times, went 3-of-10 on third downs and possessed the ball for just over 21 minutes against a defense that was on pace to be one of the worst statistically in NFL history.
—
Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025
Pakistan’s military has ruled directly for about half of the country’s history since its creation in 1947 and even during periods of rule by civilian governments, the generals hold considerable influence.
—Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Dec. 2025
Learn about South Africa's apartheid history at Robben Island and the District Six Museum.
—Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 1 Dec. 2025
Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.
—Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for history
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025
Pakistan’s military has ruled directly for about half of the country’s history since its creation in 1947 and even during periods of rule by civilian governments, the generals hold considerable influence.
—Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Dec. 2025
Learn about South Africa's apartheid history at Robben Island and the District Six Museum.
—Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 1 Dec. 2025
Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.
—Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 1 Dec. 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 3 Dec. 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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