past 1 of 3

Definition of pastnext
as in history
the events or experience of former times we spent a pleasant evening recalling the past together

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

past

2 of 3

adjective

past

3 of 3

preposition

1
as in over
on or to the farther side of I drive past the school every day

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in after
subsequent to in time or order it's ten minutes past six o'clock

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of past
Noun
With a brand new album on the horizon, Duff is entering a new era while reflecting on her past. Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 15 Feb. 2026 However, audiences will have to wait a week to get a glimpse into Angelo's past. Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Isom, like his predecessor Doug Parker, is not a showman like the flyboys of past generations. Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 16 Feb. 2026 How goaltending is powering them past opponents. Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026
Preposition
The prospect of a costly and prolonged interstate lawsuit over rights to the Colorado River looms now that the states using the water are blowing past a Valentine’s Day deadline with no water-sharing deal in hand. Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 13 Feb. 2026 At one point, Chakraborty could be seen pointing the knife at officers, even going past a door police closed behind them, before officers fired four shots. Jennifer Bisram, CBS News, 13 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for past
Recent Examples of Synonyms for past
Noun
  • Ficke was Moe’s right-hand man with the Nuggets from 1982-84, the Abbott to his Costello, at the start of one of the most successful — and absolutely bonkers — periods of the team’s history.
    Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 18 Feb. 2026
  • Meanwhile, all 17 of the album's tracks charted on the Billboard Hot 100, making Bad Bunny the first Latin artist in history to have over 100 entries on the chart.
    Edward Segarra, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • The winning bid for the rare card was placed by venture capitalist AJ Scaramucci, the son of former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci.
    Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
  • The Sun Belt is the only real exception, having now defined itself as FBS’ actual Southeastern conference, partly by losing its former oddballs like Idaho and New Mexico State.
    Jason Kirk, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Preposition
  • With the city facing multiple lawsuits over the billing debacle, Clark helped oversee a friendly class-action lawsuit against the city, the judge found.
    Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
  • In France, the highest-profile figure affected by the recent release of the Epstein files is former Culture Minister Jack Lang, 86, who stepped down earlier this month as head of the Arab World Institute in Paris over suspicions of tax fraud.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Feb. 2026
Preposition
  • Carolyn Hax started her Washington Post advice column in 1997, after five years on the Style desk and none as a therapist.
    Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 20 Feb. 2026
  • Hours after her post, deputies assigned to the Salton City sheriff’s station responded to a call about the discovery of human remains in Salton City.
    Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • The oldest American woman to compete in the women’s singles event in nearly a century now sits in a distant 13th place ahead of the 4-minute free skate on Thursday night.
    Brittany Ghiroli, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026
  • Lowenthal has spoken highly of Australia’s similar ban, which went into effect in December and bans accounts for all children under 16 years old.
    Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 18 Feb. 2026
Preposition
  • Cortina d'Ampezzo — The lights shine from Olimpia della Tofane here every night, an eerily beautiful beacon in austere black and white hanging just off in the distance beyond Cortina d’Ampezzo.
    Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 15 Feb. 2026
  • Grand jury proceedings require only probable cause, not proof beyond a reasonable doubt, and are conducted without defense counsel present.
    Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Acclaimed Black music artists like Duke Ellington, Sarah Vaughn and Cab Calloway stopped at Dooky Chase's post-performance, unable to patronize other establishments.
    Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026
  • While 657 classified positions have been identified for closure, the district spokesperson said the final number of layoffs has not yet been determined and is expected to be lower due to retirements and other personnel moves.
    Teresa Liu, Daily News, 17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Directed and co-written by Alexandre Rockwell, the film follows an aspiring filmmaker (Steve Buscemi) who falls in with an irresistibly charming gangster (Seymour Cassel, who won Sundance’s first acting award) as his erstwhile producer.
    Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
  • La Dolce Vita and the Minerva, which occupies the erstwhile palazzo of 17th-century aristocrats, debuted last April.
    Adam Erace, Travel + Leisure, 6 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Past.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/past. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.

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