past 1 of 3

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

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
Addi Doria and Valentina Labuschagne each scored goals early in the second half to lead Mater Dei past previously undefeated and top-ranked Bishop O’Dowd of Oakland 2-0 at Natomas High. Dan Albano, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026 The same balance of past and present carries beyond the closet. John Vorwald, Robb Report, 15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
What set this year apart was how readily an emboldened O’Brien — and the show around him — embraced Oscar traditions that past ceremonies have shied away from. Ben Travers, IndieWire, 16 Mar. 2026 The Bruins have won six of their past eight games. Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 16 Mar. 2026
Preposition
But the Tommies’ lead lasted less than a minute, until Augustana’s Owen Baumgartner poked the puck past Tommies goaltender Carsen Musser during a scramble in front of the net. Dean Spiros, Twin Cities, 15 Mar. 2026 Sandin became the third defenseman to get on the board when his shot from point knuckled past Swayman, giving the Caps a 2-1 edge. CBS News, 14 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for past
Recent Examples of Synonyms for past
Noun
  • Ogles also railed against two men who are being investigated in connection with explosives brought to an anti-Islamic protest in New York, though his history of making anti-Muslim posts goes back long before that incident.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 11 Mar. 2026
  • The 19-year-old San Diego native is just the 10th goalkeeper in league history to record three consecutive clean sheets to start a season.
    Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Later that year, federal prosecutors in New York charged the company’s former CEO Joanna Smith-Griffin, with securities fraud and related offenses tied to investor deception.
    Teresa Liu, Daily News, 11 Mar. 2026
  • Charles Allen, the respected former chief executive of broadcaster ITV, resigned last week as chairman of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), the sport’s governing body, which licences participants, oversees disciplinary procedures and enforces the rules.
    Ian King, CNBC, 11 Mar. 2026
Preposition
  • Starmer fired Mandelson after nine months in the job when new details of the relationship with Epstein emerged, and now faces a political storm over the appointment.
    JILL LAWLESS AND BRIAN MELLEY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, Arkansas Online, 12 Mar. 2026
  • Spurs have tried to sign a fair few high-profile players over the last 12 months, including Eberechi Eze, Antoine Semenyo and Morgan Gibbs-White, but missing out on Andy Robertson in the January transfer window has proven as costly as any other.
    Jay Harris, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026
Preposition
  • Global art markets saw modest growth in 2025 after two years of decline — but the recovery is partial and fragile.
    Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 12 Mar. 2026
  • Lucy Nicholson | Reuters Oil prices pared gains on Thursday after Brent crude briefly touched $100 a barrel, as attacks were reported on three more cargo ships in the Persian Gulf and traders reacted to the IEA's move to release government stockpiles.
    Sam Meredith,Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Jana Kostelic, Croatia’s 19-year-old skiing sensation, becomes the second youngest woman to win the overall World Cup title.
    Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
  • Brake gently as needed - Brake normally if the vehicle has anti-lock brakes and pump brakes gently if in an older vehicle.
    STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Mar. 2026
Preposition
  • The top two teams from the Americas beyond the United States (which is guaranteed a spot as the host country) qualified into the six-team field through the World Baseball Classic.
    Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 15 Mar. 2026
  • Previously, proof of citizenship could go back additional generations to great-grandparents and beyond under the legal provision known as jus sanguinis.
    Mike Snider, USA Today, 15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Illinois also broke with federal vaccine recommendations on other occasions last year, deciding to continue to recommend hepatitis B vaccines for nearly all newborns and to continue to recommend COVID-19 vaccines for all children ages 6 to 23 months.
    Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
  • Rainy weather driving tips Switch on headlights - Even during daylight hours, using headlights can enhance visibility and signal your presence to other drivers.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • The erstwhile third baseman moved to right field midway through camp last spring then placed fourth among MLB right fielders in defensive runs saved as a rookie, per Sports Info Solutions.
    Matt Kawahara, Houston Chronicle, 24 Feb. 2026
  • Directed and co-written by Alexandre Rockwell, the film follows an aspiring filmmaker (Steve Buscemi) who falls in with an irresistibly charming gangster (Seymour Cassel, who won Sundance’s first acting award) as his erstwhile producer.
    Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Past.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/past. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.

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