plural histories
1
: the study of past events
I studied history in college.
a professor of medieval/American history
2
a
: events of the past
They were one of the greatest teams in history.
the dawn of recorded history [=the beginning of the time when important events in the past were written down]
These problems have occurred throughout (human) history.
It was one of the most destructive storms in modern/recent history.
It was a period in American history when most people lived and worked on farms.
Her discoveries have earned her a place in history. [=she will be remembered in the future because of her discoveries]
How will history judge the policies of the current administration? [=how will the policies be regarded in the future?]
History has shown that such attempts have always failed. [=such attempts have always failed in the past]
They believe that they will succeed because history is on their side. [=because other people have succeeded in the past in similar situations]
You can't rewrite history. [=you can't change what has happened in the past]
A talent scout spotted her behind the counter at a soda fountain and the rest is history. [=the rest of the story about her success is well-known]
They won the championship last year. Will history repeat itself this year? [=will the same thing happen again?]
b
: past events that relate to a particular subject, place, organization, etc.
He gave us a tour of the building and told us about the company's history. [=about how the company began and how it has developed over time]
The company has been successful throughout its history. [=throughout the entire time of its existence]
Nothing like this has occurred before in the company's 20-year history. [=in the 20 years that the company has existed]
There is quite a bit of history [=much has happened] in this old house.
The history of space exploration is a fascinating topic.
The school can trace its history back to the early 19th century. [=the school has existed since the early 19th century]
3
: a written record of important events that have happened since the beginning of something
He wrote a well-known history of the British empire.
The book begins with a brief/short history of the Internet.
4
: an established record of past events, actions, etc.
—usually singular
The patient has no (prior) history of heart problems. [=she has not had heart problems in the past]
The prisoner has a history of violence. [=the prisoner has been violent in the past]
a patient's medical history [=a record of past medical problems and treatments]
a worker's employment history [=a record of jobs that a worker has had]
It's hard to buy a car if you don't have any credit history. [=if you have not borrowed and repaid money in the past]
They have a family history of heart disease. [=many people in their family have suffered from heart disease in the past]
5
informal
: someone or something that is finished
Their winning streak was history. [=their winning streak was finished/over]
His boss told him that if he was late one more time, he would be history. [=he would be fired]
Cite this Entry
“History.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/history. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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