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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 massive jackpot — secured by matching white balls 4, 26, 66, 67, 69 and red Powerball 9 — was the eighth largest lottery prize in history, and the second largest in the state. — Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 15 Aug. 2026 Heilmann was a pioneering abstract painter who blended elements from pop culture, craft, and art history with ease and wit. — Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 15 Aug. 2026 On Friday, however, as the Dodgers evened the series with a 3-1 win against the Milwaukee Brewers, history didn’t repeat itself. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026 Lala making landfall on the Big Island would mark history, as a hurricane hasn’t done so in 155 years. — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 15 Aug. 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
  • The initiative’s website has no record of its presidential board of advisers — which is supposed to convene at least once every six months — holding a single meeting.
    — Jason Armesto, AJC.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The spending is heavily dominated by staff travel, transportation and lodging, which make up the vast majority of the top expenditures, per P-card data reviewed by the Herald after a public records request.
    — Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of record
Noun
  • And then came up with the early Miasma, mid-Miasma, late-Miasma chronology.
    — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 10 Aug. 2026
  • That chronology worked explosively well for those who saw Jackson’s rendition unfold at the box office.
    — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of chronology
Noun
  • There is dread and sadness and also anger, not only on behalf of the usual alibi for caring about famous women’s bodies, those masses of impressionable teen-age girls, but on behalf of past and present selves.
    — Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2026
  • An economy that stretches to Haiti For Jean-Marie Denis, the Haitian writer and Little Haiti cultural activist better known by his pen name, Jan Mapou, the withdrawal of Haitians from public life evokes something from Haiti’s past.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of past
Noun
  • The week’s biggest stories Animal and pet sagas Big Bear celebrity eagle Shadow has been seen with a new eagle at the nest.
    — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • As a preteen, I became absorbed in the life of Davy Crockett, Wild Bill Hickok and others through stories written for my age group.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of story
Noun
  • His songs spanned from party anthems to deep social commentary.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Over the last year, Grande has faced a wave of online commentary surrounding her health and body.
    — Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of commentary
Noun
  • Reaves has a fully dedicated golf social media Instagram account, and right after retirement from the NBA, Smith joined the golf team at North Carolina A&T as a freshman walk-on.
    — Omar Jimenez, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Leeds United’s goalkeeper does not manage his social media accounts but his friends have kept him informed of the feverish reaction to his arrival.
    — Beren Cross, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of account
Noun
  • Residents of a Newark, New Jersey, apartment complex got a startling wakeup call Sunday morning when police in tactical gear, responding to reports of multiple people shot, stormed their building.
    — Andrew Ramos, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • In a report Monday, Windward said Kharg’s western terminal had seen no loadings for 22 consecutive days, the liquid petroleum gas terminal for 13 days and the eastern terminal for 10 days.
    — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of report
Noun
  • His 2023 book chronicles that the worldwide movement for such structures is not just feel-good environmentalism but based on verifiable research that demonstrates efficacy and benefits.
    — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The acclaimed documentary captures a 20-year personal chronicle of a family struggling with severe mental illness and social isolation.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 Aug. 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 16 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of history for Spanish Speakers

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