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
That was really the story of the opening period for the home team, and has been the story of the series over the past three games.
—
Arpon Basu, New York Times, 28 May 2026
Under the leadership of CEO James Daunt, Barnes & Noble is expanding again, adding more than 100 stores over the past two years.
—ABC News, 27 May 2026
Limits on coaches’ employment opportunities have led to litigation in the past.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 27 May 2026
Her bylines over the past five years have appeared in USA Today, Baltimore Sun, Teen Vogue, Boston Globe, Food & Wine, and more.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for the past
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Arpon Basu, New York Times, 28 May 2026
Under the leadership of CEO James Daunt, Barnes & Noble is expanding again, adding more than 100 stores over the past two years.
—ABC News, 27 May 2026
Limits on coaches’ employment opportunities have led to litigation in the past.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 27 May 2026
Her bylines over the past five years have appeared in USA Today, Baltimore Sun, Teen Vogue, Boston Globe, Food & Wine, and more.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 27 May 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 3 Jun. 2026.
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