history

noun his·to·ry \ ˈhi-st(ə-)rē \

Definition of history

plural histories

1 :tale, story

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

See history defined for English-language learners

See history defined for kids

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 of history from the Web

Wochit A Michigan State Police trooper, who Tasered a Detroit teen on an ATV shortly before the youth crashed his vehicle and died, has a history of excessive force, according to court documents obtained by the Detroit Free Press.

— allie gross, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan trooper facing $50M lawsuit has history of excessive force," 30 Aug. 2017
The length of the suspension was in part a result of Burfict's extensive history of disciplinary issues.

— daniel rapaport, SI.com, "Vontaze Burfict's Five-Game Suspension to be Reduced to Three Games," 30 Aug. 2017
Harvey's record-breaking rainfall is being called one of the worst disasters in United States history.

— sarah klein, Health.com, "12 Houston Pictures That Have Broken Our Hearts (And Restored Them)," 30 Aug. 2017
Scholars note that very few wars have been waged over water throughout history.

— The Christian Science Monitor, "Why the world better manages water crises like Harvey," 29 Aug. 2017
Fisher, who said she's still honored coach Chris Green even recruited her, said there's definitely pressure in replacing Hooe, one of the greats in program history and a linchpin in UAA's record of 103-22 in her career.

— Alaska Dispatch News, "UAA volleyball gets ready for life after All-America setter Morgan Hooe," 29 Aug. 2017
His passing yards against SMU (452), Oklahoma (449) and South Dakota State (439) ranked sixth, seventh and ninth in TCU history.

— carlos mendez, star-telegram, "TCU vs. Jackson State: What to know about the Horned Frogs and Tigers," 28 Aug. 2017
Flood damage in Texas from Hurricane Harvey may equal that from Katrina, the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history, an insurance research group said on Sunday.

— reuters, Fortune, "Houston Crippled by Catastrophic Flood as Mass Evacuations Ordered," 27 Aug. 2017
But in a free society, censorship and the sandblasting of history carries a price.

— john fund, National Review, "Monument Madness," 27 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'history.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of history

Middle English histoire, historie, from Anglo-French estoire, histoire, from Latin historia, from Greek, inquiry, history, from histōr, istōr knowing, learned; akin to Greek eidenai to know — more at wit

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First Known Use: 14th century

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