the past

noun

: an earlier time : the time before the present

happy memories of the past

In the past, there was a company luncheon every month.

grammar : a verb tense that is used to refer to the past : the past tense

The past of "walk" is "walked."

Examples of the past in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The actor has been outspoken in the past, in particular about the need for Native Americans to tell their own stories. —

Marco Della Cava, USA TODAY, 16 Sep. 2024 For the past four years, the English actress has been a linchpin of the ensemble cast of Industry. —

Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 15 Sep. 2024 The two sides have been negotiating a new contract for the past 15 months, with the pilots demanding wage rates that would narrow the pay gap with their counterparts at major U.S. carriers such as United Airlines. —

CNN, 15 Sep. 2024 Playing the final version of the bass on tour for the past few months has been incredible—it's been a fantastic experience. —

Steve Baltin, Forbes, 15 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for the past

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'the past.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.