1
a
: ago
12 years past
started working on this project 10 years past
b
: just gone or elapsed
for the past few months
I spoke with him this past weekend.
2
: having existed or taken place in a period before the present : bygone
In past winters, we have had much more snow.
3
: of, relating to, or constituting a verb tense that is expressive of elapsed time and that in English is usually formed by internal vowel change (as in sang) or by the addition of a suffix (as in laughed)
4
: having served as a specified officer in an organization
past president
past champions
1
a
: time gone by
b
: something that happened or was done in the past
regret the past
2
a
: the past tense of a language
b
: a verb form in the past tense
3
: a past life, history, or course of action
especially
: one that is kept secret
: so as to reach and go beyond a point near at hand
drove past
Synonyms
Examples of past in a Sentence
Adjective
She was hired based on her past experience in sales.
a past editor of the newspaper
Preposition
The office is two blocks past the intersection.
Turn left just past the stairs.
We drove past the house.
I must have walked right past her.
He looked past me to the next customer.
Noun
Past, present, and future are all linked together.
The past of “walk” is “walked.”
Adverb
Several weeks went past before we heard from her.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jordan Smith, The Indianapolis Star, 8 Aug. 2024
But while every trace of their past lives has been wiped from existence, the ripples of their previous versions are felt and exposed thanks to a new foe: the Keepers.
—Lucy Ford, TIME, 8 Aug. 2024
Ana Rocío Álvarez Bríñez, The Courier-Journal, 9 Aug. 2024
Some like to get past end-of-summer promotions before using the H word.
—Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel, 9 Aug. 2024
Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 10 Aug. 2024
Blanchett plays Lilith, an infamous bounty hunter with a mysterious past who reluctantly returns to her home of Pandora, the most chaotic planet in the galaxy.
—Asia Moore, Los Angeles Times, 9 Aug. 2024
Brian Steinberg, Variety, 10 Aug. 2024
In terms of anomalies over years past, both 2023 (orange) and 2024 (red) have been exceptionally warm.
—John Timmer, Ars Technica, 8 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for past 
Adjective
In keeping with past years, more than half of those counted were Black, a disproportionate share given that about 30% of Marion County residents identify as African American.
—Jordan Smith, The Indianapolis Star, 8 Aug. 2024
But while every trace of their past lives has been wiped from existence, the ripples of their previous versions are felt and exposed thanks to a new foe: the Keepers.
—Lucy Ford, TIME, 8 Aug. 2024
Preposition
Each of the six glasses has a unique design throwing back to past crazes, like Beanie Babies, the Minions franchise and past McDonald's mascots like Grimace and the Fry Guys.
—Ana Rocío Álvarez Bríñez, The Courier-Journal, 9 Aug. 2024
Some like to get past end-of-summer promotions before using the H word.
—Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel, 9 Aug. 2024
Noun
The two-minute video below shows Selena Gomez, who played the central character Alex Russo, embracing and almost longing for her past, while her brother Justin (played by David Henrie) attempts to avoid repeating it.
—Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 10 Aug. 2024
Blanchett plays Lilith, an infamous bounty hunter with a mysterious past who reluctantly returns to her home of Pandora, the most chaotic planet in the galaxy.
—Asia Moore, Los Angeles Times, 9 Aug. 2024
Adverb
In years past, NBCU hasn’t started pumping its Olympics telecasts until just a few months before the Opening Ceremonies.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 10 Aug. 2024
In terms of anomalies over years past, both 2023 (orange) and 2024 (red) have been exceptionally warm.
—John Timmer, Ars Technica, 8 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for past
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word '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 past
Cite this Entry
“Past.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/past. Accessed 18 Aug. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
past
1 of 4 adjective1
a
: ago
10 years past
b
: just gone by
for the past few months
2
: having existed or taken place in a period before the present
past customs
3
: of, relating to, or being a verb tense that in English is usually formed by internal vowel change (as in sang) or by the addition of a suffix (as in laughed) and that expresses time gone by
4
: no longer serving
a past president
past
2 of 4 preposition1
: beyond entry 2 sense 1
past 50 years old
half past ten
2
: in a course by and then beyond
the road goes past the house
past
3 of 4 noun1
: a former time or event
2
a
b
: a verb form in the past tense
3
: a past life or history
especially
: a past life that is secret or questionable
past
4 of 4 adverb
: so as to pass by
a deer ran past
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