history
noun
his·to·ry
ˈhi-st(ə-)rē 
plural histories
2
a
: a chronological record of significant events (such as those affecting a nation or institution) often including an explanation of their causes
a history of Japan
b
: a treatise presenting systematically related natural phenomena (as of geography, animals, or plants)
an illustrated history of North American birds
c
: an account of a patient's medical background
reviewing her medical history
d
: an established record
a prisoner with a history of violence
3
: a branch of knowledge that records and explains past events
medieval history
4
a
: events that form the subject matter of a history
the history of space exploration
b
: events of the past
History has shown that such efforts rarely succeed.
c
: one that is finished or done for
the winning streak was history
you're history
d
: previous treatment, handling, or experience (as of a metal)
a history of repeated exposure to freezing temperatures
Examples of history in a Sentence
I studied history in college.
a professor of medieval history
They were one of the greatest teams in history.
It was one of the most destructive storms in modern history.
It was a period in American history when most people lived and worked on farms.
The history of space exploration is a fascinating topic.
He wrote a well-known history of the British empire.
The book begins with a brief history of the Internet.
Recent Examples on the Web
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
Today, The Marlton’s history shines through in every room, from the crown molding behind the beds to the marquee above the entrance.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Mar. 2026
While Islamic State West Africa Province has staged a growing number of attacks against the military in recent months, observers say this is the first time in recent history that the group has successfully launched simultaneous attacks of this scale in the region.
—Arkansas Online, 11 Mar. 2026
Mike Singletary leads Texas Tech to the biggest rally in Big 12 tournament history, scoring all 29 of Texas Tech’s points during a second-half surge that pushed the Red Raiders to a 88-83 win against the Aggies.
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for history
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
Today, The Marlton’s history shines through in every room, from the crown molding behind the beds to the marquee above the entrance.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Mar. 2026
While Islamic State West Africa Province has staged a growing number of attacks against the military in recent months, observers say this is the first time in recent history that the group has successfully launched simultaneous attacks of this scale in the region.
—Arkansas Online, 11 Mar. 2026
Mike Singletary leads Texas Tech to the biggest rally in Big 12 tournament history, scoring all 29 of Texas Tech’s points during a second-half surge that pushed the Red Raiders to a 88-83 win against the Aggies.
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for history
Cite this Entry
“History.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/history. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
history
noun
his·to·ry
ˈhis-t(ə-)rē
plural histories
1
: a story of real or imaginary events
2
a
: a written record of important events and their causes
b
: a branch of knowledge that records and explains past events
c
: events that form the topics of a history
Medical Definition
history
noun
his·to·ry
ˈhis-t(ə-)rē
plural histories
: an account of a patient's family and personal background and past and present health
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