First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1past
adjective \ˈpast\
: having existed in a time before the present : from, done, or used in an earlier time
—used to refer to a time that has gone by recently
—used to say what someone or something was in the past
Full Definition of PAST
1
a : ago <12 years past> b : just gone or elapsed <for the past few months>
2
: having existed or taken place in a period before the present : bygone
3
: of, relating to, or constituting a verb tense that is expressive of elapsed time and that in English is usually formed by internal vowel change (as in sang) or by the addition of a suffix (as in laughed)
4
: having served as a specified officer in an organization <past president>
See past defined for English-language learners
See past defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of PAST
Middle English, from past participle of passen to pass
Related to PAST
2past
preposition
: at the farther side of (something) : beyond (a particular place)
: up to and beyond (a person or place)
: later than (a time)
Full Definition of PAST
1
a : beyond the age for or of <past playing with dolls> b : after <half past two>
2
a : at the farther side of : beyond b : in a course or direction going close to and then beyond <drove past the house>
3
obsolete : more than
4
: beyond the capacity, range, or sphere of <past belief>
See past defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of PAST
14th century
3past
noun
: an earlier time : the time before the present
: the events of a person's life, of a place, etc., before the present time
Full Definition of PAST
1
a : time gone by b : something that happened or was done in the past <regret the past>
2
a : the past tense of a language b : a verb form in the past tense
3
: a past life, history, or course of action; especially : one that is kept secret
— past·less \ˈpas(t)-ləs\ adjective
See past defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of PAST
1520
Related to PAST
- Synonyms
- auld lang syne, history, yesterday, yesteryear, yore
4past
adverb
: to and beyond a certain point or time
Full Definition of PAST
: so as to reach and go beyond a point near at hand <drove past>
See past defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of PAST
1546
PAST Defined for Kids
1past
adjective \ˈpast\
Definition of PAST for Kids
1
: of or relating to a time that has gone by <I've worked for the past month.>
2
: relating to a verb tense that expresses a time gone by
3
: no longer serving <a past president>
2past
preposition
Definition of PAST for Kids
1
: 2beyond 1 <We left at ten minutes past five.>
2
: going close to and then beyond <She walked past my house.>
3past
noun
Definition of PAST for Kids
1
: a former time <In the past trains went from here to New York.>
2
: life or history of a time gone by <We're studying the nation's past.>
4past
adverb
Definition of PAST for Kids
: so as to pass by or beyond <A deer ran past.>
Learn More About PAST
Browse
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up past? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).