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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in after
subsequent to in time or order it's ten minutes past six o'clock

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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 past
Noun
For Americans who share his sense of loss, not so much for a past that never was as for a future that was promised, time is running out. Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026 In order to earn back the admiration of his fans and the respect of his family, Reggie will also have to confront the ghosts of his past. Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Security forces were far more visible than during past days of protests—and more heavily armed. Davood Moradian, The Atlantic, 26 Jan. 2026 Pendergrass has a past felony conviction for armed robbery and was not legally permitted to possess a gun, per the outlets. Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 26 Jan. 2026
Preposition
In western North Carolina, particularly across the mountains just past the North Georgia border, the Weather Service predicts up to 8 inches of snow. Caroline Silva, AJC.com, 31 Jan. 2026 Domestic gross should climb to $17 million through Sunday, well past initial projections of $10 million. Jack Dunn, Variety, 31 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for past
Recent Examples of Synonyms for past
Noun
  • Musk has a history of overpromising technological advance timelines.
    Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
  • In New York, the state has completed one of the largest Medicaid transformations in its history, overhauling the home health care system precisely because of the accountability failures and fraud vulnerabilities now commanding national attention.
    Miki Kapoor, New York Daily News, 3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • The filing outlines nine counts, including negligence against Ford Field and multiple defamation claims against Metcalf, Johnson and former NFL tight end Shannon Sharpe's Shay Shay Media.
    Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 4 Feb. 2026
  • Infamously, a February 2024 story published by Bloomberg suggested that Panera Bread restaurants, owned by Newsom donor and former high school classmate Greg Flynn, would be exempt from a fast-food minimum-wage increase due to provisions pushed by the governor.
    Robert Schmad, The Washington Examiner, 4 Feb. 2026
Preposition
  • Mixing and juxtaposing voices, lingos, and tones, [Dylan] traces the decline of America over the trajectory of his own lifetime through the kaleidoscope of the Kennedy assassination.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
  • When food is scarce or temperatures rise, animals are expected to choose survival over making offspring.
    Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Preposition
  • Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust’s portfolio.
    , CNBC, 29 Jan. 2026
  • In December, independent streetwear brand Named Collective announced the launch of activewear brand Nth Active after years of watching its customers wear its hoodies and joggers to the gym.
    Amy Francombe, Vogue, 29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Of the final contenders—Zaida the Afghan hound, Cookie the Maltese, JJ the Lhasa apso, Graham the Old English sheepdog, Cota the Chesapeake Bay retriever, Penny the Doberman pinscher, and Wager the smooth fox terrier—four-year-old Penny was crowned the year’s top dog.
    Poupay Jutharat, Vogue, 4 Feb. 2026
  • The 83-year-old senator has had multiple health issues over the past few years, including publicly freezing during a press conference in 2023 and falling ahead of a Senate vote in October 2025.
    Lillian Metzmeier, Louisville Courier Journal, 4 Feb. 2026
Preposition
  • The lawsuit claims Saint Ann’s leadership was alerted twice in early 2024 that explicit images of young girls were circulating among students on Snapchat but failed to notify police or intervene beyond internal meetings.
    Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 1 Feb. 2026
  • That included 18 points from Peterson and the Jayhawks made 9 of 12 from beyond the arc.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • This article was generated by the Bay Area Home Report Bot, software that analyzes home sales or other data and creates an article based on a template created by humans.
    Bay Area Home Report, Mercury News, 27 Jan. 2026
  • The data included not only tax returns but also investment details, stock trades, gambling winnings, audit determinations, and other financial information.
    Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Violette briefly resurfaced in 2018 with a small solo show at Gladstone’s Upper East Side town house—an improbably tasteful site for an erstwhile rebel.
    Rachel Wetzler, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2026
  • The first is modeled after an erstwhile monument to the iki (refined) shopping district of Ginza of the Meiji period (1868-1912).
    Jonathan DeLise, Travel + Leisure, 31 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Past.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/past. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.

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