past 1 of 3

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
Pope Leo then did what great teachers do, connecting the distant past to the present. Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025 Laura arrives there to rebuild her life, but the irresistible pull of quick money and crime immediately draws her back into a troubled past. Leo Barraclough, Variety, 1 May 2025
Adjective
With the series shifting to Madison Square Garden and the road team in a 2-0 hole, percentages from past NBA seven-game series gave the Celtics just a 14.3% chance to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 11 May 2025 To view the list of past winners, visit the Mega Millions website. Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 11 May 2025
Preposition
Still, ever the salesman, Trump started a victory lap well past the starting line. Philip Elliott, Time, 12 May 2025 Cruzado hoisted her grandson in one arm and shepherded her father toward the front, past crowds taking selfies in front of the Pope’s illuminated likeness. Caitlin Stephen Hu, CNN Money, 12 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for past
Recent Examples of Synonyms for past
Noun
  • Combs' lawyers have argued the law has a history of racial bias that rarely results in prosecution.
    Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 13 May 2025
  • An Unequal Society Is A Business Risk In India, DEI has a distinct trajectory shaped by a complex social fabric and a history of affirmative action.
    Paul Klein, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
Adjective
  • Douglas Brick, a former student at the University of Utah, disappeared on Oct. 12, 1973, according to information from police and the school in Salt Lake City.
    Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 16 May 2025
  • Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci showed up for Lively at her movie premiere in April, and Lively was spotted out with former costar Salma Hayek in May.
    Benjamin VanHoose, People.com, 15 May 2025
Preposition
  • Earle then posted a TikTok about the house, which went viral, amassing over 1.1 million views.
    Meredith Wilshere, People.com, 19 May 2025
  • Pro-Palestinian groups urged the European Broadcasting Union to exclude Israel over Gaza, where more than 50,000 people have been killed in the ensuing offensive by Israel, according to local health officials.
    John Revill, USA Today, 19 May 2025
Preposition
  • If approved, the amendment would require emergency clause votes to take place at least 24 hours after the vote on the accompanying bill.
    Neal Earley, Arkansas Online, 22 May 2025
  • Fifteen hours after the 911 call, an 8-year-old relative found the three bodies inside the home, their throats slashed ear to ear.
    Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 22 May 2025
Adjective
  • Applicants must be 6 years or older as of the beginning of Oct. 4 to participate.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 13 May 2025
  • Of course, the new standard will be backward-compatible with Wi-Fi 6 devices, as well as older Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) and Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) ones.
    Iyaz Akhtar, PC Magazine, 13 May 2025
Preposition
  • Thanks in large part to the Paramount, headlines about murder and mayhem have been replaced by stories about new restaurants, new businesses, new apartments and new shows that are drawing rave reviews and audiences from the Chicago area and beyond.
    Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 18 May 2025
  • Her pink lipstick, drawn far beyond the outline of her mouth, smiled without her.
    Patricia Lockwood, New Yorker, 18 May 2025
Adjective
  • Court records show three of the burglary charges are from Seminole County and the two other burglary charges, along with the petit theft charge, are from a Volusia County warrant.
    Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 May 2025
  • Because the fire is in a residential area, fighting the fire has strained the immediate water grid, Wallace said, leading the department to bring in water from other, larger water mains.
    Racquel Bazos, Baltimore Sun, 13 May 2025
Adjective
  • Manfred, like other MLB commissioners before him, had rejected Rose’s petitions for reinstatement while the erstwhile slugger was still alive.
    Chris Branch, New York Times, 14 May 2025
  • Radcliffe will play Arthur Tobin, an award-winning filmmaker who moves into Reggie's mansion to shoot an immersive documentary about the erstwhile star athlete.
    Mekishana Pierre, EW.com, 12 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Past.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/past. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

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