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
Brunson had 27 points by halftime, including a 3-pointer at the buzzer that blew the score to 74-51 and gave him the second-most first-half points in Knicks playoff history.
—
C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 5 May 2026
The shade of blue also has a deep history for Saint Laurent.
—Dalila Muata, NBC news, 5 May 2026
Subscribe to the free Vintage Chicago Tribune newsletter, join our Chicagoland history Facebook group, stay current with Today in Chicago History and follow us on Instagram for more from Chicago’s past.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 5 May 2026
The defending champs sold out all 8,700 season-ticket memberships for the 2026 season with a 92% renewal rate from the previous season, becoming the first team in league history to sell out season ticket allotments for three consecutive years, the person said.
—Michael Ozanian, CNBC, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for history
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.
C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 5 May 2026
The shade of blue also has a deep history for Saint Laurent.
—Dalila Muata, NBC news, 5 May 2026
Subscribe to the free Vintage Chicago Tribune newsletter, join our Chicagoland history Facebook group, stay current with Today in Chicago History and follow us on Instagram for more from Chicago’s past.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 5 May 2026
The defending champs sold out all 8,700 season-ticket memberships for the 2026 season with a 92% renewal rate from the previous season, becoming the first team in league history to sell out season ticket allotments for three consecutive years, the person said.
—Michael Ozanian, CNBC, 4 May 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 5 May. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
