the past
noun
1
: an earlier time : the time before the present
happy memories of the past
In the past, there was a company luncheon every month.
2
grammar
: a verb tense that is used to refer to the past : the past tense
The past of "walk" is "walked."
Examples of the past in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For most white-collar jobs, those are vestiges of the past, Zappacosta believes.
—
Jane Thier, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2024
And Pennsylvania happens to be where Biden and allies are spending the second-most on ads right now – almost $4 million in the past month and a half since Super Tuesday, the unofficial start to the general election.
—Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 23 Apr. 2024
Its contributors examine how the world has been imagined in the past and present by pan-Islamic thinkers, Japanese and Indian nationalists, and figures on the transnational radical right, among others.
—Daniel Nexon, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024
Hunter was scheduled to appear in a downtown courtroom but had not been brought in as of 2 p.m.
Choi said that in the past, a mix of armed and unarmed security has been assigned to patrol Getty House.
—David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2024
Cher and Foreigner becoming Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees might come as a surprise given their comments in the past.
—Ilana Kaplan, Peoplemag, 23 Apr. 2024
Even though the story is now 80 years in the past, the film immediately connects you to this universal experience of love and family and loss, of strength, courage and resilience that comes from surviving something traumatic, and of the hope that our parents are proud of us.
—Ben Croll, Variety, 23 Apr. 2024
The company has been in a push over the past year to simplify its structure and improve velocity and execution, CEO Sundar Pichai said last week.
—Rocio Fabbro, Quartz, 23 Apr. 2024
Certain properties are exempt from the law, including most single-family homes and duplexes, as well as affordable housing and properties constructed within the past 15 years.
—Brianna Taylor, Sacramento Bee, 23 Apr. 2024
Jane Thier, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2024
And Pennsylvania happens to be where Biden and allies are spending the second-most on ads right now – almost $4 million in the past month and a half since Super Tuesday, the unofficial start to the general election.
—Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 23 Apr. 2024
Its contributors examine how the world has been imagined in the past and present by pan-Islamic thinkers, Japanese and Indian nationalists, and figures on the transnational radical right, among others.
—Daniel Nexon, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024
Hunter was scheduled to appear in a downtown courtroom but had not been brought in as of 2 p.m.
Choi said that in the past, a mix of armed and unarmed security has been assigned to patrol Getty House.
—David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2024
Cher and Foreigner becoming Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees might come as a surprise given their comments in the past.
—Ilana Kaplan, Peoplemag, 23 Apr. 2024
Even though the story is now 80 years in the past, the film immediately connects you to this universal experience of love and family and loss, of strength, courage and resilience that comes from surviving something traumatic, and of the hope that our parents are proud of us.
—Ben Croll, Variety, 23 Apr. 2024
The company has been in a push over the past year to simplify its structure and improve velocity and execution, CEO Sundar Pichai said last week.
—Rocio Fabbro, Quartz, 23 Apr. 2024
Certain properties are exempt from the law, including most single-family homes and duplexes, as well as affordable housing and properties constructed within the past 15 years.
—Brianna Taylor, Sacramento Bee, 23 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'the past.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near the past
Cite this Entry
“The past.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20past. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.
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