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
Nyle DiMarco & Davis Guggenheim; 2024; USA; 100 min
Over eight intense days in 1988, a student protest at the world’s only deaf university changed the course
of history.
—
Addie Morfoot, Variety, 5 Feb. 2025
On Monday, another longtime big leaguer, a World Series winner who once won the AL RBI crown and is one of only 18 players in MLB history to hit four home runs in one game announced plans to move into another professional sport: pickleball.
—Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025
The amount of global cooling estimated in the study is comparable to what occurred when Sumatra’s Mount Toba experienced a super-eruption, considered to be one of the largest in Earth’s history, that likely disrupted the global climate 74,000 years ago.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 5 Feb. 2025
The latter clinched Sky News the first BAFTA award in its history.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 5 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for history 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Addie Morfoot, Variety, 5 Feb. 2025
On Monday, another longtime big leaguer, a World Series winner who once won the AL RBI crown and is one of only 18 players in MLB history to hit four home runs in one game announced plans to move into another professional sport: pickleball.
—Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025
The amount of global cooling estimated in the study is comparable to what occurred when Sumatra’s Mount Toba experienced a super-eruption, considered to be one of the largest in Earth’s history, that likely disrupted the global climate 74,000 years ago.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 5 Feb. 2025
The latter clinched Sky News the first BAFTA award in its history.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 5 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for history
Dictionary Entries Near history
Cite this Entry
“History.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/history. Accessed 10 Feb. 2025.
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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