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past 1 of 3

noun

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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past

2 of 3

adjective

ˈpast How to pronounce past (audio)
as in former
having been such at some previous time a past editor of the newspaper

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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
Ahead of the film’s release, Paxton — son of the late Fort Worth actor Bill Paxton, who died in 2017 — spoke with the Star-Telegram over Zoom earlier this year about the new Western and his past travels to Fort Worth. — Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Sep. 2026 Blair messaged Vaughan, who responded, and told him about her past in the video. — Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2026
Adjective
These legends are way past hiding the cracks in their voices or the lines on their faces. — Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 17 Sep. 2026 But in another way, Borden’s story differentiates itself from past iterations. — Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2026
Preposition
McBride ran for the seat in 2024 but did not advance past the primary. — Naomi Taxay, Sacbee.com, 19 Sep. 2026 Rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin had four hits, Brandon Lowe hit his 32nd homer and the Pittsburgh Pirates surged past the Kansas City Royals 8-5 on Friday night. — ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for past
Recent Examples of Synonyms for past
  1. history
  2. former
  3. over
  4. after
  5. old
  6. beyond
  7. other
  8. erstwhile
Noun
  • His long-ball total is tied for eighth in a season during the ballpark’s history and the most since Moisés Alou had 29 in 2004.
    — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2026
  • The competition is separate from the Miss America pageant, which traces its history to a 1921 event in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
    — Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of history
Adjective
  • Around the halfway point of Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard, Petya Trofimov — eternal grad student, moral purist, and former tutor to the once wealthy family whose diminution sits at the heart of the play — makes a speech.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Contour Circuits, founded by Secor and former graduate student Jeremy Rurup, received a $150,000 Small Business Technology Transfer contract to advance the technology.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of former
Preposition
  • The situation did come close to spilling over to something that would have been foreign to my whole being, my whole behavior.
    — Juliana Ukiomogbe, Architectural Digest, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Sullivan mattered a lot during the visiting 59ers’ 28-10 Northwest Crossroads Conference victory over previously unbeaten Hobart on Friday, making six catches for 79 yards and three touchdowns.
    — Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of over
Preposition
  • To find it, look low above the southwestern horizon after sunset, where Venus will be easy to spot despite the lingering twilight.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Cultural performances in the lounge after dark carry the energy of the day forward, so the soul of the river stays with you even when the ship is still.
    — Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of after
Adjective
  • The sheriff's office's drone was used to assist in checking the approximately 28-acre property and helped identify old kennel and animal-confinement areas.
    — River Valley Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The 27-year-old pre-training researcher’s dramatic resignation has fired off a provocative warning on X that instantly sent ripples across the tech sector.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of old
Preposition
  • Central States recently joined the Expanding ESOPs coalition, which includes nearly 100 organizations working together to grow employer ownership here in Arkansas and beyond by increasing awareness and improving policy.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Sep. 2026
  • That’s because postseason games tend to be close, and good lineups rarely let any starter last beyond six innings.
    — Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of beyond
Adjective
  • Blue laws in Arkansas included bans on card games, hunting, horse racing and other activities on Sundays.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The back end should be able to move the puck better and avoid long stretches in their own end, and assuming relative health, other players like Braden Schneider will no longer have to play too high in the lineup.
    — Peter Baugh, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of other
Adjective
  • Kimmel then asked about CBS and whether anyone from the network congratulated their erstwhile star Colbert for the Emmy wins.
    — Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2026
  • But some of Jentleson’s erstwhile allies on the left are less sanguine about his project.
    — Jason Zengerle, New Yorker, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of erstwhile

Phrases Containing past

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Cite this Entry

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

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More from Merriam-Webster on past

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about past

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