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
In the Adams formulation, the true history was about chance, contingency, and unintended consequences, about political leaders who were all improvising on the edge of catastrophe.
—
Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
Even with all the hate he's fielded over the years, Willmore still feels proud of his place in Missouri history as the state's first male homecoming queen.
—Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
Amazon is preparing to announce largest layoffs in its history.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 28 Oct. 2025
Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, who became the ninth player in NHL history to score 1,700 points, said the team found out about the fall after the game.
—CNN Money, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for history
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
Even with all the hate he's fielded over the years, Willmore still feels proud of his place in Missouri history as the state's first male homecoming queen.
—Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
Amazon is preparing to announce largest layoffs in its history.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 28 Oct. 2025
Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, who became the ninth player in NHL history to score 1,700 points, said the team found out about the fall after the game.
—CNN Money, 28 Oct. 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 4 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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