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

Over the past two months, amid efforts to find what could be more than $20 billion to recapitalize insurance funds, Walter has sold his controlling interest in the Lakers and a minority share of Chelsea, the English Premier League club. — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026

Yet over the past year, Netanyahu has taken steps that angered Trump and others in his administration, including strikes in Lebanon and Gaza that undercut his regional peace efforts. — Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026

Memories of seminal events of the past offer a lens through which to consider the present. — Asim Ali, Time, 24 Oct. 2026

Pastry chef Elissa Hayward was hired at Aria, which has revamped much of its top food and beverage staff in the past year. — Henri Hollis, AJC.com, 24 Oct. 2026

Rhymes for the past

• aghast
• amassed
• biassed
• broadcast
• bypassed
• downcast
• forecast
• foremast
• harassed
• holdfast
• mainmast
• newscast