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
In the past, phones had only one sound: the shrill, continuous ring of a landline.
—
Krystal Hur, CNN, 23 June 2024
And although the intense early days of the pandemic are now in the past, Flood said the demand for food remains high.
—Cindy Carcamo, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2024
In the past that might have looked like owning a car or holidaying abroad.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 23 June 2024
Note that holding onto the past limits you from pursuing a new chapter.
—Kyle Thomas, Peoplemag, 23 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for the past 
Krystal Hur, CNN, 23 June 2024
And although the intense early days of the pandemic are now in the past, Flood said the demand for food remains high.
—Cindy Carcamo, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2024
In the past that might have looked like owning a car or holidaying abroad.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 23 June 2024
Note that holding onto the past limits you from pursuing a new chapter.
—Kyle Thomas, Peoplemag, 23 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for the past
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'the past.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near the past
Cite this Entry
“The past.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20past. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
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