past

noun

1

a

: time gone by

b

: something that happened or was done in the past

regret the past

2

a

: the past tense of a language

b

: a verb form in the past tense

3

: a past life, history, or course of action

especially : one that is kept secret

pastless

ˈpas(t)-ləs 

adjective

Synonyms of past

• history
• yesterday

Examples of past in a Sentence

Past, present, and future are all linked together.

The past of “walk” is “walked.”

Recent Examples on the Web

The forgers of the future have become custodians of an optimistic past. —Justin Davidson, Curbed, 4 June 2026

Subscribe to the free Vintage Chicago Tribune newsletter, join our Chicagoland history Facebook group, stay current with Today in Chicago History and follow us on Instagram for more from Chicago’s past. —Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2026

This offer applies to products under warranty and even some past the warranty period (which varies by product). —Meaghan Kenny, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 June 2026

The Blue Butterly follows Sentwali (Toussaint), a man haunted by his past who lives a cocooned life driving a limousine through the city, who meets a woman, played by Succession‘s Sanaa Latham. —Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 4 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing past

• all in the past
• (a) quarter past
• a thing of the past
• beyond/past redemption
• blast from the past
• checkered past
• half past
• in times past
• I wouldn't put it past (someone)
• leave the past behind
• live in the past
• march-past
• past bearing
• past due
• past it
• past master
• past one's prime
• past participle
• past perfect
• past tense
• past the hour
• relic of the past
• run past
• the dim and distant past
• the past
• the past perfect
• this past
• tick away/by/past
• whistle past the graveyard

Rhymes for past

• bast
• blast
• cast
• caste
• classed
• clast
• fast
• gassed
• gast
• glassed
• grassed
• hast

Kids Definition

past

1 of 4 adjective

ˈpast 

1

a

: ago

10 years past

b

: just gone by

for the past few months

2

: having existed or taken place in a period before the present

past customs

3

: of, relating to, or being a verb tense that in English is usually formed by internal vowel change (as in sang) or by the addition of a suffix (as in laughed) and that expresses time gone by

4

: no longer serving

a past president

past

2 of 4 preposition

1

: beyond entry 2 sense 1

past 50 years old

half past ten

2

: in a course by and then beyond

the road goes past the house

past

3 of 4 noun

1

: a former time or event

2

a

: past tense

b

: a verb form in the past tense

3

: a past life or history

especially : a past life that is secret or questionable

past

4 of 4 adverb

: so as to pass by

a deer ran past