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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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
Miami’s past holds surprising stories of ambition and reinvention, from a Bulgarian artist wrapping islands in pink fabric to a failed bid to become the film capital of the world. Jeff Kleinman, Miami Herald, 9 May 2026 The Boys has now set up one past relationship as a plot point that becomes the series's crucial apex. Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 9 May 2026
Adjective
Pretty Boy Miah has won his past two races. Bennett Conlin, Baltimore Sun, 11 May 2026 The Sacramento Bee covered a range of top stories this past weekend, from a congressional campaign event to a beloved local tradition reviving for a city’s 80th birthday. Sacbee.com, 11 May 2026
Preposition
Banda worked her way into the box, muscled off a defender and curled a bouncing shot to the far post past Courage goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan. Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 May 2026 Griffin scored her first professional points late in the fourth quarter of New York’s 106-75 win over the Connecticut Sun, driving smoothly past Sun forward Aneesah Morrow for a layup. Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for past
Recent Examples of Synonyms for past
Noun
  • Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas did not discuss Mott’s extensive criminal history at a news conference Tuesday morning but noted that investigators were reaching out to his family and those who knew him seeking additional information about his motivations.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
  • With Montreal’s big win, this is the first time in PWHL history that the higher seed has won a playoff series.
    Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 13 May 2026
Adjective
  • López was one of the fiercest critics of then-Mayor Fúnez, a supporter of the mine and close ally of Honduras’ former president, Xiomara Castro.
    Marlon González, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
  • Following the deaths last week of two franchise icons, Braves fans gathered Tuesday night at Truist Park to honor the lives of former manager Bobby Cox and former owner Ted Turner at the team’s game against the Chicago Cubs.
    Ken Sugiura, AJC.com, 13 May 2026
Preposition
  • Sia's Fan Favorite prize began in 2016, and she's since awarded over $1 million to various players.
    Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 14 May 2026
  • The map has changed multiple times over the past month, and at one point was removed from the website entirely.
    Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 14 May 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, 15 May 2026
  • The return of Sia's Fan Favorite comes two years after Probst, 64, announced in May 2024, after Survivor's 46th season, that Sia would no longer be awarding money to her favorite players.
    Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 14 May 2026
Adjective
  • Most of them were spent on the third defensive pairing, and then the 22-year-old was scratched for Tyson Hinds late in the year as Quenneville favored the size of Hinds, who spent most of his season in the American Hockey League.
    Eric Stephens, New York Times, 13 May 2026
  • Now imagine moving millions of items, each of them delicate, unique, priceless and old.
    Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 13 May 2026
Preposition
  • The dish had hardly a hint of sweetness at all beyond the butter’s lactic tang.
    Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 10 May 2026
  • These tailwinds are expected to drive stronger-than-expected growth this year, beyond EPD's prior outlook for modest growth.
    TipRanks.com Staff, CNBC, 10 May 2026
Adjective
  • Like other pools in China, swimmers will need to don a swim cap to take a dip.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 May 2026
  • In other words, the surface numbers and the eye test are matching the analytics in Chisholm’s case.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 12 May 2026
Adjective
  • Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers and John Oliver are reuniting for a special video episode of their erstwhile podcast Strike Force Five, the quintet of late-night hosts announced during their joint appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
    Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 11 May 2026
  • Then, in 2017, Tesla mainstreamed the Model S with the more affordable Model 3, surpassing the erstwhile eco-warrior favorite Prius.
    Brooke Crothers, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Past.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/past. Accessed 15 May. 2026.

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