history

noun

his·to·ry ˈhi-st(ə-)rē

plural histories

Synonyms of history next

: tale, story

: 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

: a treatise presenting systematically related natural phenomena (as of geography, animals, or plants)

an illustrated history of North American birds

: an account of a patient's medical background

reviewing her medical history

: an established record

a prisoner with a history of violence

: a branch of knowledge that records and explains past events

medieval history

: events that form the subject matter of a history

the history of space exploration

: events of the past

History has shown that such efforts rarely succeed.

: one that is finished or done for

the winning streak was history

you're history

: previous treatment, handling, or experience (as of a metal)

a history of repeated exposure to freezing temperatures

Example Sentences

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. See More

Recent Examples on the Web In this warts-and-all look at the history of one of America's most storied brands, Maggie Bullock explores the hard work and chutzpah that helped the company define an era (OK, maybe two) as well as the troubles that threatened to derail it. —

The Editors, Town & Country, 4 Mar. 2023 Catherine Martin, wife and creative partner of Baz Luhrmann, is the winningest Australian in the history of the Academy Awards. —

Hilton Dresden, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Mar. 2023 Michigan cornerback DJ Turner II ran one of the fastest 40-yard dash times in the history of the NFL Scouting Combine on Friday. —

Mark Inabinett | Minabinett@al.com, al, 3 Mar. 2023 This is how the seemingly trivial case of a missing ring at a college dorm became a pivotal moment in the history of the justice system—a public debut for the now infamous lie detector. —

Amit Katwala, WIRED, 2 Mar. 2023 Produced by WNYC Studios and Futuro Studios, each episode uses a song to chronicle a definitive cultural moment in the history of Puerto Rico and its diaspora. —

Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2023 The interest in the history of HQ Trivia comes back to the communal nature of the app and its flaming downfall. —

Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 2 Mar. 2023 The 2022-23 Boston Bruins are the best team in hockey, enjoying what might end up being the greatest regular season in the 105-year history of the National Hockey League. —

Dan Shaughnessy, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Mar. 2023 This was to be the greatest prank in the history of the county. —

Julia A. Morales, Seventeen, 1 Mar. 2023 See More

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.

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of history was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century