history

noun

ˈhi-st(ə-)rē How to pronounce history (audio)
Definition of historynext
1
as in annals
an account of important events in the order in which they happened a history of the American civil rights movement during the 1960s

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in chronology
a relating of events usually in the order in which they happened we heard the whole history of her illness in excruciating detail

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in past
the events or experience of former times history has many lessons to teach us, if only we would listen

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 history The midnight fireworks display on the National Mall on July 4 was one for the history books. — Susan Page, USA Today, 5 July 2026 Descendants of America's third president grapple with history and belonging. — Briana Stewart, ABC News, 4 July 2026 Anticipation for the milestone holiday has been building for much of the year, serving as an opportunity for Americans to reflect on their complicated history as onetime colonists of an empire who became a superpower of their own. — Steven Sloan, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026 While the Founding Fathers are often at the center of Revolutionary War history, one of the country’s most recognizable symbols is traditionally associated with an ordinary woman working from her home in Philadelphia. — Pete Cuddihy, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for history
Recent Examples of Synonyms for history
  1. record
  2. chronology
  3. past
  4. story
  5. commentary
  6. account
  7. report
  8. chronicle
Noun
  • Mbappé put France ahead with a brilliant crossover step in the 45th minute and then added a second-half goal to break a World Cup knockout round scoring record, and Les Bleus beat Sweden 3-0 to set up a round of 16 match against Paraguay.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 1 July 2026
  • But the records do not identify Swift or Kelce or indicate whether the event is directly connected to the couple.
    — Charlie Carballo, USA Today, 1 July 2026
Definition of record
Noun
  • He is credited as the first and most significant contributor to South Florida archaeology of the time, classifying materials, recording 49 sites across Miami-Dade and making the first outline of a chronology of indigenous habitation.
    — Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026
  • For generations, society has conditioned us to measure life through chronology.
    — Ricardo Bellino, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Definition of chronology
Noun
  • Subscribe to the free Vintage Chicago Tribune newsletter, join our Chicagoland history Facebook group, stay current with Today in Chicago History and follow us on Instagram for more from Chicago’s past.
    — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • Some of the town’s earliest inhabitants are buried at the cemetery, giving a glimpse into the state’s colonial past.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2026
Definition of past
Noun
  • This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
    — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 5 July 2026
  • Gil was trapped beneath more than 100 tons of rubble after the partial collapse of the Galerias Playa Grande commercial center, which includes buildings nine and four stories tall.
    — Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
Definition of story
Noun
  • The platform has featured traditional adverts for bets, but CazéTV’s commentators have also promoted betting during the games, blending advertising with commentary of the action on the pitch.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026
  • At once pugnaciously combative and unreservedly sentimental, Landon chose to take the series out with a commentary on class revolt.
    — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 3 July 2026
Definition of commentary
Noun
  • When the accounts first launched many said other than the free $1,000 from the government, maybe not.
    — Medora Lee, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • On Wednesday, July 1, the 13-year-old daughter of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West posted to her and her mother’s joint TikTok account, posing with bright blue hair, nail piercings and even a skull design on her lipstick.
    — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
Definition of account
Noun
  • Times staff writers Seema Mehta and Phil Willon contributed to this report.
    — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • The report argues that the museum has deemphasized America’s founding, noting the absence of major exhibits devoted to the Founding Fathers or key events of the American Revolution as the country marks its 250th anniversary.
    — Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 6 July 2026
Definition of report
Noun
  • The 13-track record chronicles the lifespan of a relationship, from the exuberance of initial infatuation to the whiplash of begging for affection from a partner that was once so easily enamored.
    — Chelsey Sanchez, CNN Money, 25 June 2026
  • Plot synopsis House of the Dragon attempts to condense and dramatize the conflicting accounts presented in Fire & Blood—stitched together from testimonies and court chronicles—into a single authoritative narrative.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 June 2026
Definition of chronicle

Browse Nearby Words

histories
history
histrionic
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Cite this Entry

“History.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/history. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of history for Spanish Speakers

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