the past
noun
1
: an earlier time : the time before the present
happy memories of the past
In the past, there was a company luncheon every month.
2
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
Two rescues within the past week in San Miguel County are a reminder about preparation in Colorado's mountains as the arrival of warm weather means more people in the mountains.
—
Alan Gionet, CBS News, 18 June 2026
Still up seven games in the NL East, the Braves (46-27) are in an offensive funk over the past week, and the team’s good starting pitching has faltered some.
—Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 18 June 2026
Like in the past, season 8 of the Peacock show does not air on Wednesdays, and only the companion talk show, Aftersun, airs on Saturdays.
—Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 17 June 2026
This has happened three times in the past two months.
—Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for the past
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Alan Gionet, CBS News, 18 June 2026
Still up seven games in the NL East, the Braves (46-27) are in an offensive funk over the past week, and the team’s good starting pitching has faltered some.
—Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 18 June 2026
Like in the past, season 8 of the Peacock show does not air on Wednesdays, and only the companion talk show, Aftersun, airs on Saturdays.
—Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 17 June 2026
This has happened three times in the past two months.
—Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for the past
Cite this Entry
“The past.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20past. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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