past
pahst
Past (noun) means the period of time before the present. Example: “She rarely talks about her past.”
noun
1
The period of time before the present.
"She rarely talks about her past."
"Historians study the past to understand the present."
"In the past, most families in the village grew their own food."
adjective
1
Having already happened or existed; former.
"Past students often return to visit the school."
"The past president gave a short speech at the dinner."
"Several past winners were invited back to the ceremony this year."
preposition
1
Beyond in place, time, or amount.
"It's ten past six."
"He walked past the shop without noticing it was closed."
"It was well past midnight when the guests finally went home."
How to use past
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRefers to time or events that have already happened, or being beyond something in place or time.
Common mistake
Use "past" for the noun/adjective/preposition ("in the past," "past midnight"); use "passed" only as a verb form ("She passed the exam").
Easily confused with
Common pairings
in the past
past experience
quarter past
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Word forms
- Plural
- pasts
- Comparative
- more past
- Superlative
- most past
Fill the gap
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She rarely talks about her _____.
Etymology
From the past participle of Middle English passen, "to pass, go by" — the same root as the modern verb "pass."
Synonyms
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history
former times
bygone days
yesteryear
olden days
days gone by
preceding
retiring
yestertide
foregone
used-to-be
backward
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for past
See all rhymes for past →Frequently asked questions
What does “past” mean?
The word “past” means the period of time before the present. In plain terms, refers to time or events that have already happened, or being beyond something in place or time.
How do you pronounce “past”?
“Past” is pronounced pahst (/pæst/ in IPA).
How do you use “past” in a sentence?
Here is “past” used in a sentence: “She rarely talks about her past.”
What is another word for “past”?
Words with a similar meaning to “past” include yestertide, foregone, preceding, used-to-be, backward and forepassed.
What is the opposite of “past”?
The opposite of “past” — its antonyms — are future and present.
What part of speech is “past”?
Depending on how it is used, “past” can be a noun, an adjective and a preposition.
Where does the word “past” come from?
The word “past” comes from Middle English. From the past participle of Middle English passen, "to pass, go by" — the same root as the modern verb "pass.".
Is “past” a common word?
“Past” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between past and passed?
Past refers to time already gone, or means 'beyond' ('walk past the shop'); it works as a noun, adjective, or preposition. Passed is the past tense of the verb 'to pass' and always describes an action ('she passed the test'). If you can swap in 'went by,' use passed.
What is the opposite of the past?
The opposite of the past is the future - the time yet to come. Between them lies the present, the moment happening now. The past holds what has already occurred, while the future holds what has not yet happened and may still be shaped or changed.
What is an example of the past?
Childhood memories, historical events, and yesterday's news all belong to the past. Sentences such as 'in the past, people wrote letters' or 'she has a colourful past' use the noun to mean the time, or the experiences, that came before the present moment.
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