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
Penn State invested heavily into this roster and built toward this year, like Michigan and Ohio State did on their way to national championships the past two seasons.
—
Cameron Teague Robinson, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
Libraries and schools are reporting a significant rise in attempts to ban or restrict books in the United States over the past three years.
—Jennifer Borresen, USA Today, 5 Oct. 2025
Over the past two games, Jenkins has turned the ball over four times.
—Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2025
Change from the past and change day by day.
—Nicole Young, Nashville Tennessean, 5 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the past
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Cameron Teague Robinson, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
Libraries and schools are reporting a significant rise in attempts to ban or restrict books in the United States over the past three years.
—Jennifer Borresen, USA Today, 5 Oct. 2025
Over the past two games, Jenkins has turned the ball over four times.
—Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2025
Change from the past and change day by day.
—Nicole Young, Nashville Tennessean, 5 Oct. 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 8 Oct. 2025.
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