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
The Packers lead the all-time series, 109-97-6, although the Bears have won two of the past three.
—
Jeff Howe, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
O'Connor has spent the past weeks working to assemble a staff who will bring experience and a new vision to Pittsburgh.
—Ricky Sayer, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
Beijing has made significant inroads in Latin America over the past two decades, persuading several countries, including Panama, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic and El Salvador, to shift diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China.
—Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026
The 1,000-yard seasons are a thing of the past either way, but Kelce has put up at least 800 yards every year in his 13-year career, save a rookie season that included all of one special teams snap.
—Kansas City Star, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the past
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Jeff Howe, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
O'Connor has spent the past weeks working to assemble a staff who will bring experience and a new vision to Pittsburgh.
—Ricky Sayer, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
Beijing has made significant inroads in Latin America over the past two decades, persuading several countries, including Panama, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic and El Salvador, to shift diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China.
—Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026
The 1,000-yard seasons are a thing of the past either way, but Kelce has put up at least 800 yards every year in his 13-year career, save a rookie season that included all of one special teams snap.
—Kansas City Star, 5 Jan. 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 9 Jan. 2026.
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