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
Mansfield has grown rapidly over the past few years.
—
Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2025
Over the past half century, the federal government has been trying to persuade Americans to build savings to cover their retirement, and to supplement Social Security, using tax breaks as a lure.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 20 Apr. 2025
Miami is a longshot to beat Cleveland, but the past two games alone will see a more encouraged Heat team enter the offseason.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2025
That means the whiplash on driving contact and sudden stopping in front of trailing defenders need to become a thing of the past.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 20 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the past
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Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2025
Over the past half century, the federal government has been trying to persuade Americans to build savings to cover their retirement, and to supplement Social Security, using tax breaks as a lure.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 20 Apr. 2025
Miami is a longshot to beat Cleveland, but the past two games alone will see a more encouraged Heat team enter the offseason.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2025
That means the whiplash on driving contact and sudden stopping in front of trailing defenders need to become a thing of the past.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 20 Apr. 2025
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 4 May. 2025.
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