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
In the recent past, the Republican party attracted doctor-candidates who were essentially small business people who had concerns about high taxes and government overreach. — Selena Simmons-Duffin, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026 What emerges from Carrère’s excavation of his mother’s past is a strikingly nuanced portrait of a brilliant, problematic scholar. — Madeleine Wulfahrt, New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2026
Adjective
Both are past chairs of the IEEE preuniversity coordinating committee. — Debra Gulick, IEEE Spectrum, 5 Nov. 2026 Among those who turned out to celebrate Arjona were Brittany Snow, Jessica Alba, Marta Pozzan, Natalia Bryant, Julianne Hough, Shay Mitchell, Zoey Deutch and Yara Shahidi, with Deutch and Shahidi both past recipients of the award. — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 5 Nov. 2026
Preposition
Kaprizov zipped a cross-ice pass through the slot that Shabanov redirected past Askarov at the far post. — CBS News, 7 Nov. 2026 Your right hand moves and the scenery begins flying past considerably faster. — Kevin Fanady, New Atlas, 6 Nov. 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 the Division 3 final, Corona del Mar outlasted Newbury Park 24-26, 25-20, 25-15, 22-25, 15-13 to capture its first section title in 22 years and the eighth in program history.
    — Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 8 Nov. 2026
  • California has a rich and varied history — and San Jose is the oldest civilian community in the state.
    — John Ramos, CBS News, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of history
Adjective
  • Greg Totten, the association’s CEO and former longtime Ventura County district attorney, also criticized the decision and its impact on victims’ families.
    — Michael McGough, Sacbee.com, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Dhillon has drawn fierce criticism from former Justice Department attorneys who have accused her of abandoning the division's traditional civil rights enforcement mission in favor of conservative causes.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of former
Preposition
  • Beyond the beach, stroll over to the Butterfly Farm to see 35 species of butterflies in every stage of the life cycle, from egg to caterpillar to inside the chrysalis.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Senior shopping editor Nashia Baker has it and recommends draping it over your favorite reading chair or at the foot of your bed for an easy dose of texture.
    — Jacorey Moon, Architectural Digest, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of over
Preposition
  • Blue Origin accelerates development Northstar reached development testing just 11 months after receiving program approval.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2026
  • There’s no doubt this is a see-and-be-seen destination in the city, chosen for graduation celebrations, baby showers, birthdays, and after-work drinks with colleagues.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of after
Adjective
  • This old Southern home on a barrier island is a four-story frame structure decorated with antiques, Asian rugs, and Tiffany lamps.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Nov. 2026
  • More photos, this time of our 12-year-old playing with a cat in our house.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of old
Preposition
  • In other words, while the NFL has not announced plans to keep Williams off the field over his Caddix cleats, its existing rules provide a potential enforcement mechanism that goes well beyond simply issuing another fine.
    — Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Or is that simply naivete borne of the American myth that our candidates’ attentiveness extends beyond the ballot box and endures long after Election Day?
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of beyond
Adjective
  • Tellingly, most other states give local governments this ability.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Nov. 2026
  • His church, the Church of the Resurrection, was at the forefront of efforts to make the United Methodist Church more inclusive to LGBTQ congregants, but many other churches supported the change.
    — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of other
Adjective
  • The erstwhile king of clay, nine-time champion Rafael Nadal, had been deposed in the quarterfinal, and the man who had dished out that comprehensive defeat, Novak Djokovic, would assume the throne.
    — Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Katrina, an erstwhile nemesis from her school days, discomfits her by showing only kindness rather than animosity.
    — Malcolm Forbes, Christian Science Monitor, 26 Oct. 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 8 Nov. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about past

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