Past

Quick meaning: Past is a noun meaning The period of time that has already happened, in contrast to the present and the future.

Meaning

The period of time that has already happened, in contrast to the present and the future.

More Meanings

1. (grammar) The past tense.
2. Having already happened; in the past; finished.
3. (postmodifier) Following expressions of time to indicate how long ago something happened; ago.
4. Of a period of time: having just gone by; previous.
5. (grammar) Of a tense, expressing action that has already happened or a previously-existing state.
6. In a direction that passes.
7. Beyond in place or quantity.

Example Sentences

past glories

That had been, what, three years past?

1830, Daniel Webster, a speech The past, at least, is secure.

a book about a time machine that can transport people back into the past

Word Forms

• pasts

Synonyms for past

Depending on context, synonyms include foretime, yestertide, bygone, foregone, preceding, used-to-be.

Antonyms for past

Common opposites include future, present.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include foregone, erstwhile, quondam, ago, previous, bygone.

Commonly Confused & Compared Words

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