past 1 of 3

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
His only ally is Navin, a relentless journalist haunted by his own past. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 28 Oct. 2025 Joseph Marcell, who played butler Geoffrey on Fresh Prince, portrayed someone from Bel-Air Geoffrey's past in season 3. Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Ron explains that the tumor started growing back in 2018 and past doctors were unsure about how to approach such a challenging facial reconstruction. Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025 However, the women in the study were generally older—likely past menopause—with a mean age of nearly 62. Alice Park, Time, 28 Oct. 2025
Preposition
The ball, no shock, air-mailed past everybody. Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 26 Oct. 2025 The clip, just over a minute long, shows officers shouting commands as a woman in a keffiyeh steps past a blue line painted on the property. Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for past
Recent Examples of Synonyms for past
Noun
  • Jacksonville businesses of all kinds have been affected by the downstream effects of the second-longest government shutdown in history, including Chicken Country, a restaurant that has provided the area with Southern cooking for about 50 years.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 31 Oct. 2025
  • In her exhaustive chronicle, Jennings traces the long folkloric history of monk-tormenting demons.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • And importantly, Timor-Leste’s ASEAN membership is an affirmation of its sovereignty, putting it in equal standing with its former occupier, Indonesia, within the regional bloc.
    Angelica Ang, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2025
  • Shared soap opera experience wasn't the only thing Vergara had in common with former Days of Our Lives actress and current Selling Sunset star Chrishell Stause.
    Jillian Sederholm, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
Preposition
  • This connection would become increasingly important over the twentieth century, as the rapid development of technological infrastructure created ever-expanding and increasingly dangerous sensitivities to geomagnetic storms.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Maintaining positive ties with South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung would continue the lattice-like foreign policy encouraged by Washington, one that favors multilateral cooperation among like-minded nations over bilateral dependence.
    Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
Preposition
  • Bieber picked up the victory for Toronto after tossing five-and-a-third innings and giving up just one run on four hits.
    Wayne Sterling, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2025
  • Five years after Mallory's death, Renee reflected on her daughter's death and the subsequent lawsuits.
    Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Estimates based on a family with two 40-year-old parents with two children, 10 years and 5 years old.
    Berkeley Lovelace Jr, NBC news, 31 Oct. 2025
  • So long as that situation continues, the 43-year-old’s allegedly arrogant and stand-offish treatment of his players will not worry the club hierarchy too much.
    Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025
Preposition
  • Designed specifically for female feet to provide a next-level fit, according to the brand, these boast a padded heel, performance-level cushioning, and a no-slip tongue that will stay in place far beyond 10,000 steps.
    Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Over the years, the festival has expanded to include artists, musicians, storytellers, poets, and more, all focused on a theme relevant to the social, religious, and political needs of the Louisville community and beyond.
    Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 26 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The Times’ error immediately garnered write-ups in The Washington Post, The New York Times, New York Magazine, and other outlets.
    Max Tani, semafor.com, 30 Oct. 2025
  • Those same records also showed that the only other purchases of BAM in the state of Colorado had been from the Colorado Parks and Wildlife agency and the National Parks Service — both of which maintained careful records of any use of the drug, per the indictment.
    Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The thieves made off with nine items of jewelry belonging to members of France's erstwhile royal families.
    Jamie Gray, NBC news, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Rounding out the character lineup is Frau von Luber, an erstwhile aristocrat who’s reduced to being the housekeeper in newly wealthy Olim’s castle—which used to belong to her.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 16 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Past.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/past. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.

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