a thing of the past

noun phrase

: something that no longer exists
The disease is mostly a thing of the past.

Examples of a thing of the past in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
That’s about to become a thing of the past, at least in California. Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 25 June 2026 Like it or not, the era of regulated generation dominated by public utilities is largely a thing of the past. David Blackmon, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026 To be fair, the Yankees' rules of the past — no beards — have become a thing of the past. Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 June 2026 However, with stronger DIY pest-removal systems becoming more widely available over the latter half of the 20th century, bed bugs seemed like a thing of the past. Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 June 2026 My contacts in the Iranian-human-rights world have told me that this friction is largely a thing of the past. Laura Secor, The Atlantic, 16 June 2026 Now cultural and economic shifts are making that tradition a thing of the past. Joel Mathis, TheWeek, 12 June 2026 Consider restless nights a thing of the past. Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 11 June 2026 The right knee issues that plagued him in the early months of the season are now a thing of the past, Webb told reporters after his latest strong start. Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 9 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“A thing of the past.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20thing%20of%20the%20past. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

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