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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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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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
Many of the perfumes launching this season are either direct remakes of once popular scents, or sentimental callbacks to a romanticized past. — Rhoda Feng, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026 Horsburgh, the writer and culture critic, said that Spears’s past triumphs stand on their own. — Bianca Betancourt, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
Adjective
Multi-stream data architecture This multi-stream data architecture marks a shift from past national assessments, which estimated potential capacity between 12 and 30 gigawatts. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 6 Sep. 2026 Where were all the groups that past mayors promoted over police involvement? — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 6 Sep. 2026
Preposition
Sour lemon Shoppers walk past a Lululemon store at a shopping mall on June 21, 2026, in Hong Kong, China. — Alex Harring, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2026 Hundreds of thousands of people will file past the ancient 70-meter (230-foot) embroidery, taking in its 600 human characters and 58 scenes that relate the events of 1066 – the last time England was successfully overrun by an invading force. — Mark Rice-Oxley, Christian Science Monitor, 4 Sep. 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
  • Djeneba N'Diaye also had 19 points for Mali, which is now 2-10 in its World Cup history.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The Boot Bowl rivalry, which began in 2012, doesn’t have the longest history, but for fans in Burleson, few events bring the town together quite like it.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of history
Adjective
  • Subramanyam said his calls were monitored between March and May, noting that at the time the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee was pushing for former Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Thompson, who is the son of a former state lawmaker, was sentenced to 58 years in prison.
    — Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of former
Preposition
  • That feels very much in tune with the anxious characters Eisenberg has played over the course of his acting career, but this whole directing thing is working out nicely for him, too.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2026
  • In England, boxer Jane Couch took the British Board of Boxing Control to an industrial tribunal over their refusal to grant her (or any woman) a professional boxing licence.
    — Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of over
Preposition
  • Add a thin layer of topsoil after aerating to ensure an even lawn surface for overseeding.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Thompson said that Williams struck up their friendship after they during an English class on Zoom.
    — Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of after
Adjective
  • The Dune star has five older half siblings from her father’s previous relationship.
    — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Newcastle had depleted full-back resources and Jaissle was convinced the 24-year-old’s athleticism was ideal.
    — George Caulkin, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of old
Preposition
  • Central States recently joined the Expanding ESOPs coalition, which includes nearly 100 organizations working together to grow employer ownership here in Arkansas and beyond by increasing awareness and improving policy.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Sep. 2026
  • That’s because postseason games tend to be close, and good lineups rarely let any starter last beyond six innings.
    — Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of beyond
Adjective
  • Yes, Minteh and Sarr both operate on the right and buying one of them arguably would have provided a better balance to Iraola’s attacking department given that his other wide players prefer the left flank.
    — James Pearce, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • That happened again when the five other conservatives – but not Roberts and the three liberals − said the administration could slash hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of health research funding.
    — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of other
Adjective
  • Canada on Tuesday announced retaliatory tariffs of up to 50% percent on around $20 billion worth of US products, in an expanding trade war between the erstwhile allies.
    — Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Constructed in the late 19th century, the erstwhile residence joined Grand Hotel Timeo in 1929 when the properties’ owners married.
    — Sam Cochran, Architectural Digest, 19 Aug. 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 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on past

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about past

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