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
Wesley Miller, who started 23 games at South Alabama over the past two years, provides depth at safety along with DeAndre Boykins, who is in his sixth season of college.
—
Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
The soundtrack around Idaho’s first professional soccer team remained the same for the past year.
—Idaho Statesman, 5 Apr. 2026
Each side features shoutouts to Kansas City’s professional soccer teams of the past and present, and love letters to his family, like a heart drawn by his niece.
—Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2026
Her work has appeared in multiple publications over the past decade, including Al Majalla, Al-Monitor, ANSA and RAI Radiotre, among other freelance work, according to her public LinkedIn account.
—Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the past
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Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
The soundtrack around Idaho’s first professional soccer team remained the same for the past year.
—Idaho Statesman, 5 Apr. 2026
Each side features shoutouts to Kansas City’s professional soccer teams of the past and present, and love letters to his family, like a heart drawn by his niece.
—Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2026
Her work has appeared in multiple publications over the past decade, including Al Majalla, Al-Monitor, ANSA and RAI Radiotre, among other freelance work, according to her public LinkedIn account.
—Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the past
Cite this Entry
“The past.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20past. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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