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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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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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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
The lawsuit requests damages of $10 million for past and future physical injuries, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. — Madison Lambert, NBC news, 7 Aug. 2026 The truck’s name came after a nine-month search during which Ford considered both alphanumeric labels and familiar names from its past, including Ranchero. — Josh Max, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Adjective
However, callers may use information from data brokers or past breaches to make their stories sound credible. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 10 Aug. 2026 Mass clearings claim the most trees Like past assessments, the survey found the overwhelming majority of Atlanta’s intact canopy — 72% — is on land zoned for single-family residential homes. — Drew Kann, AJC.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Preposition
And her block on Sabrina Ionescu moments before halftime preceded her sprinting past multiple Liberty players, receiving a bounce pass from Flau’jae Johnson, spinning by Rebekah Gardner and easily scoring two of 15 first-half points. — Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 7 Aug. 2026 Wherever two fluids slide past each other at different speeds, the boundary between them buckles, then curls, then rolls up into vortexes. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 7 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
  • In 2018, Modi was accused by Indian authorities of orchestrating one of the country’s largest bank frauds in modern history.
    — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Yes, Venice provides a glamorous, high-profile red carpet, a heady dose of prestige with its long and glittering history, and a Golden Lion win can sometimes pave the way to a best-picture Oscar.
    — Radhika Seth, Vogue, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of history
Adjective
  • She’s hired a former Georgia Supreme Court chief justice as a special prosecutor to get the state’s appellate courts to weigh in.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Among the players involved in the Georgia case are former Clemson and Georgia forward RJ Godfrey, former UCF forward Jamichael Stillwell and former Georgia Tech guard Lamar Washington.
    — Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of former
Preposition
  • The Broadway Bridge over the Arkansas River was closed briefly on Saturday evening while police responded to a report of a man who had talked about jumping off it, authorities said.
    — Rafael Escalera Montoto, Arkansas Online, 9 Aug. 2026
  • When the actress’ hiring was announced, there was an outcry over allegations of colorism due to Stenberg’s mixed-race status and lighter skin tone.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of over
Preposition
  • Starter Luis Castillo allowed five runs on six hits with five strikeouts and one walk in four innings in his White Sox debut after being acquired from the Seattle Mariners.
    — LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Scott recalled the moment Jeff Hiller emerged as the right fit for Larry, a friendly neighbor who reveals that the hivemind cannot lie, after a long search through auditions.
    — Deadline, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of after
Adjective
  • Body cameras captured the moments Rialto police officers rushed to save a choking 3-year-old child last week.
    — Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Tatyana Montero, a 25-year-old Army based in Canada, was given one of Abby Elder's freebies in Las Vegas.
    — Nidhi Singh, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of old
Preposition
  • As one University of Helsinki scholar of Chinese political economy put it, stablecoins can circulate beyond regulatory oversight, interfere with capital account management and complicate the central bank's control over settlement.
    — Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Beginning Friday, and lasting into next weekend and beyond, a pattern change will set in, bringing a September feel to the Northeast that will feature much lower humidity levels, and highs in the upper 70s to low 80s.
    — Matthew Villafane, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of beyond
Adjective
  • In a news release shared Tuesday, Verizon said that service interruptions affected people across Los Angeles County and other parts of the region after vandals cut multiple fiber cables.
    — Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Since Covid-19, average revenues among the ‘Big Six’ have increased by £189million, more than three times the increase at other Premier League clubs.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 12 Aug. 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 12 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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