Meaning & use
past
The period of time that has already occurred, before the present moment.
See it in a sentence
She rarely talks about her past, preferring to focus on the future.
Historians study the past to understand how societies change over time.
A note on using this word
Past can also function as an adjective (past events) or a preposition (walked past the store), depending on its position in a sentence.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
Another way to use it
2. adjective
Having existed or happened in an earlier time; no longer current.
The company's past struggles are now behind it after the recent merger.
3. preposition
Beyond a particular point in time or space.
It was well past midnight when we finally arrived home.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “past”, then compare your use with the examples above.