as in history
the events or experience of former times
we spent a pleasant evening recalling the past together
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in former
having been such at some previous time
a past editor of the newspaper
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in over
on or to the farther side of
I drive past the school every day
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026
Mukhamadullin, Michael Misa, and Tyler Toffoli included — took a return pass from Evangelista and fired a puck past rookie goalie Yaroslav Askarov for a 4-3 Predators lead.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2026
Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 6 Apr. 2026
But others see past modes of transportation as part of San Diego’s future.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2026
Kevin Barrucci, Boston Herald, 4 Apr. 2026
With so many Democrats running, there’s the genuine prospect of them splintering partisan support, resulting in the leading GOP candidates — Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton — grabbing both slots and moving past June 2.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for past
Noun
The Department of Homeland Security is attacking Jimmy Kimmel’s jokes about Markwayne Mullin’s past as a plumber.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026
Mukhamadullin, Michael Misa, and Tyler Toffoli included — took a return pass from Evangelista and fired a puck past rookie goalie Yaroslav Askarov for a 4-3 Predators lead.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
And their creative abilities only makes the tension between their past bodies of work and their current endeavors harder to process.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 6 Apr. 2026
But others see past modes of transportation as part of San Diego’s future.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2026
Preposition
In a Cape Ann League matchup, Bodin Carovillano finished with five points (3 goals, 2 assists) while six other players added at least two points a piece to lift Manchester Essex past Hamilton-Wenham, 14-5.
—Kevin Barrucci, Boston Herald, 4 Apr. 2026
With so many Democrats running, there’s the genuine prospect of them splintering partisan support, resulting in the leading GOP candidates — Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton — grabbing both slots and moving past June 2.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for past
Recent Examples of Synonyms for past
Noun
-
By the first week of December, Olsson boasted seven goals in five matches, becoming the first player in WSL history to score four goals in her first five starts.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Noah Gregor scored the fastest goal to begin a game in franchise history, Mackie Samoskevich followed shortly after to give Florida its fastest two goals to begin a game in franchise history, and the Panthers never looked back in a 6-3 win over the Ottawa Senators at Amerant Bank Arena.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Pretti and former Kansas City resident Renée Good were both killed in January.—
Matthew Kelly
April 1,
Kansas City Star,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Rubio met with the grandson of former Cuban leader Raul Castro in February.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
Preposition
-
Sailing over the far side of the moon, the astronauts will pass within about 4,100 miles of the lunar surface at close approach and reach a maximum distance from Earth of some 252,800 miles.—
William Harwood,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
So many Chicago White Sox fans are already up in arms over the team’s ice-cold start, which got even colder Wednesday after a 10-0 loss in Miami.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 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,
3 Apr. 2026
-
It can only be diagnosed after death.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Brake gently as needed - Brake normally if the vehicle has anti-lock brakes and pump brakes gently if in an older vehicle.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Her older brother, Aiden, is a junior on South Elgin’s junior varsity baseball team.—
Rick Armstrong,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Apr. 2026
Preposition
-
Cordes’s cohort of scientists helped to show that the devastation of oil spills goes far beyond our coasts, where birds and fish are the most visible victims.—
Jeffrey Marlow,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Some current Jackson County legislators are also running for other positions, both in local government and beyond.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Global oil supply has reduced by 13%, according to the IMF, while severe damage has been done to other critical supply chains.—
Joseph Wilkins,
CNBC,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Earlier in the season Schumaker talked about the importance of a well-rounded team to win and while Eovaldi and deGrom struggled in their first three starts other members from the starting rotation stepped up with MacKenzie Gore, Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter all shining.—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Still, the erstwhile tax credit made the cars more accessible.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
-
This includes an erstwhile Democrat who spent considerable time and political capital on the issue.—
W. James Antle III,
The Washington Examiner,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Past.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/past. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
