past
1past
adjective \ˈpast\Definition of PAST
1
a : ago <12 years past> b : just gone or elapsed <for the past few months>
2
: having existed or taken place in a period before the present : bygone
3
: of, relating to, or constituting a verb tense that is expressive of elapsed time and that in English is usually formed by internal vowel change (as in sang) or by the addition of a suffix (as in laughed)
4
: having served as a specified officer in an organization <past president>
Examples of PAST
- She was hired based on her past experience in sales.
- <a past editor of the newspaper>
Origin of PAST
Middle English, from past participle of passen to pass
First Known Use: 14th century
Related to PAST
2past
prepositionDefinition of PAST
1
a : beyond the age for or of <past playing with dolls> b : after <half past two>
2
a : at the farther side of : beyond b : in a course or direction going close to and then beyond <drove past the house>
3
obsolete : more than
4
: beyond the capacity, range, or sphere of <past belief>
Examples of PAST
- The office is two blocks past the intersection.
- Turn left just past the stairs.
- We drove past the house.
- I must have walked right past her.
- He looked past me to the next customer.
First Known Use of PAST
14th century
3past
nounDefinition of PAST
1
a : time gone by b : something that happened or was done in the past <regret the past>
2
a : the past tense of a language b : a verb form in the past tense
3
: a past life, history, or course of action; especially : one that is kept secret
— past·less \ˈpas(t)-ləs\ adjective
Examples of PAST
- Past, present, and future are all linked together.
- The past of “walk” is “walked.”
First Known Use of PAST
1520
Related to PAST
- Synonyms
- auld lang syne, history, yesterday, yesteryear, yore
4past
adverbDefinition of PAST
: so as to reach and go beyond a point near at hand <drove past>
Examples of PAST
- Several weeks went past before we heard from her.
First Known Use of PAST
1546
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