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
Kyle Connor has scored seven goals and added four assists over the past 10 games.
—
ABC News, 12 Apr. 2026
Picassos have fetched staggering sums at auction in the past.
—Jake McGowan, CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2026
In the past, it did not rule out the possibility of a minority investor or stock market listing.
—Reuters, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2026
So there wasn't a lot of drama over the past few days as Integrity made its way back toward Earth.
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the past
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ABC News, 12 Apr. 2026
Picassos have fetched staggering sums at auction in the past.
—Jake McGowan, CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2026
In the past, it did not rule out the possibility of a minority investor or stock market listing.
—Reuters, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2026
So there wasn't a lot of drama over the past few days as Integrity made its way back toward Earth.
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 11 Apr. 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 23 Apr. 2026.
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