past
18 ENTRIES FOUND:
Britannica Dictionary definition of PAST
1
always used before a noun
:
having existed in a time before the present
:
from, done, or used in an earlier time
-
The museum displays artifacts from past [=earlier] civilizations.
-
She was hired based on her past experience in sales.
2
always used before a noun
— used to refer to a time that has gone by recently
-
He has worked there for the past few months.
-
I spoke with him this past [=last] weekend.
3
always used before a noun
— used to say what someone or something was in the past
-
She is a past [=former] president of the club.
-
Several past employees were interviewed for the story.
-
past champions
4
— used to describe something that ended or was completed in the past
-
The time is past for apologies.
-
In winters past, we have had much more snow. = In past winters, we have had much more snow.
2
past
/ˈpæst/
Brit
/ˈpɑːst/
preposition
2
past
/ˈpæst/
Brit
/ˈpɑːst/
preposition
Britannica Dictionary definition of PAST
1
:
at the farther side of (something)
:
beyond (a particular place)
-
The office is two blocks past the intersection.
-
Turn left just past the stairs.
2
:
up to and beyond (a person or place)
-
We drove past the house.
-
I must have walked right past her.
-
He looked past me to the next customer.
3
:
later than (a time)
-
We need to leave by half past two. [=2:30]
-
It was past [=after, (Brit) gone] five o'clock by the time we got home.
-
It's past his bedtime.
-
The bill is past due. [=it is late; it should have been paid before now]
4
a
:
older than (an age)
-
Now that he is past 60, he's thinking about retiring.
b
:
beyond the age for (something)
-
She is past playing with dolls.
5
:
beyond or no longer at (a particular point)
-
The milk is past its expiration date.
-
The daffodils are past blooming.
-
They tried marriage counseling, but they were already past the point of reconciling.
-
The house is a mess, but she is past caring. [=she doesn't care]
-
As a singer, he is past his prime. [=he is no longer as good at singing as he once was]
I wouldn't put it past (someone)
— used to say that you would not be surprised if someone did something bad
-
I wouldn't put it past him to lie.
-
I don't know if she ever cheated on an exam, but I wouldn't put it past her.
past it
British, informal
:
too old to do something or to be useful
-
At the age of 45, he is past it as a football player.
3
past
/ˈpæst/
Brit
/ˈpɑːst/
noun
plural
pasts
3
past
/ˈpæst/
Brit
/ˈpɑːst/
noun
plural
pasts
Britannica Dictionary definition of PAST
1
[noncount]
:
an earlier time
:
the time before the present
— usually used with the
—
see also live in the past at 1live
-
Past, present, and future are all linked together.
-
happy memories of the past
-
In the past, there was a company luncheon every month.
-
Try not to worry about it anymore. It's in the past.
-
She wants to forget about the past. = She wants to put the past behind her.
-
The disease is mostly a thing of the past. [=something that no longer exists]
-
She had some financial problems, but that is all in the past. [=she has no financial problems now]
2
[count]
:
the events of a person's life, of a place, etc., before the present time
— usually singular
-
Do you know anything about her past?
-
His past caught up with him when a former coworker recognized him.
-
He has an interesting past.
-
The city's past is full of interesting events.
-
We learned about the building's past as a textile factory.
3
blast from the past
4
past
/ˈpæst/
Brit
/ˈpɑːst/
adverb
4
past
/ˈpæst/
Brit
/ˈpɑːst/
adverb
Britannica Dictionary definition of PAST
:
to and beyond a certain point or time
-
He drove past [=by] slowly so we could look at the house.
-
A deer ran past.
-
Several weeks went past before we heard from her.
