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
Its obvious that Willis finds himself in a different position than year’s past. — Miami Herald, 25 July 2026 Commander Chancellor Nahla Ake (Holly Hunter) returns to educate the next generation of cadets, with Caleb Mir (Sandro Rosta) becoming the personification of Ake’s attempt to fix a mistake from her past. — Matt Minton, Variety, 25 July 2026
Adjective
Ticks usually wait around on grasses and other vegetation until a person or animal brushes past. — Faith Wakefield, USA Today, 27 July 2026 Your past experience should help the team make a better decision, not prevent the team from considering a new one. — Dr. Cynthia J. Young, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Preposition
There’s no need to rush past this chapter, these feelings, or this moment. — Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Aug. 2026 Lynch, speaking from his own experience as a former NFL safety, noted that most PCL issues don’t require surgical repair, also citing quarterback Mac Jones’ ability to push past a PCL tear last season. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 1 Aug. 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
  • Evander is also the fifth-fastest player to reach 100 regular-season goal contributions in MLS history — doing so in just 104 games.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026
  • His home county Drago has a history of resistance that’s been met with police crackdowns and enhanced surveillance, researchers say – particularlyafter the county emerged as a hub of protest in the 2008 Tibetan demonstrations.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of history
Adjective
  • Describing themselves as a professional neighborhood watch group, former gang members and addicts are helping Venice residents clear encampments from their doorsteps.
    — Laurie Perez, CBS News, 31 July 2026
  • In the final moments of the movie, Holland’s Peter Parker runs into his former best friend Ned (Jacob Batalon) at a cafe.
    — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 31 July 2026
Definition of former
Preposition
  • Spread Frosting evenly over Cake, and garnish with additional pecans.
    — Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Charles Duhigg is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and the author of The Power of Habit, which spent over three years on bestseller lists and has been translated into 40 languages, and Smarter Faster Better, also a bestseller.
    — Big Think, Big Think, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of over
Preposition
  • The organization, which is responsible for cleaning up the messes after superhero battles, has something that Jean wants locked inside a vault.
    — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 31 July 2026
  • The announcement comes just days after rival OpenAI first revealed that its models improperly accessed the internet and went rogue during security testing.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 31 July 2026
Definition of after
Adjective
  • Unlike my original e-bike, the Huffy includes metal fenders, a metal chain guard, and a battery that can charge in or out of the bike - all for a third of the price of my old bike.
    — William Roberson, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • Tyler James Feehan shared memories of the 25-year-old who was killed on July 17 as a result of Iranian strikes on Jordan.
    — Arpita Dasika, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
Definition of old
Preposition
  • He is caught in a cycle of being unable to keep a job while trying to maintain a lifestyle far beyond his means.
    — Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 27 July 2026
  • Miners, traditionally passive validators, could become active payment facilitators, securing new revenue beyond block rewards.
    — Sean Lee, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Definition of beyond
Adjective
  • The Big Bend Sector has not experienced the high number of border crossings seen in recent years in other areas farther south along the Rio Grande or in Arizona or California, owing to the remote and challenging terrain on both sides of the border.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 July 2026
  • Today, some bright spots aside, the Art Deco District’s historic commercial spine is a drab length of vacant and unkempt storefronts, smoke shops, liquor stores, fast-food outlets, cheap T-shirt emporia and other varieties of tourist trap.
    — Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026
Definition of other
Adjective
  • The erstwhile New York resident was loudly and vigorously booed by the hometown crowd as he was shown on the jumbotron of the legendary arena.
    — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 8 June 2026
  • Despite his meltdown in Colorado’s extra-inning loss to Milwaukee Friday night, the erstwhile starter has been one of baseball’s best relievers this season.
    — Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 7 June 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 3 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on past

Nglish: Translation of past for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about past

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