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Past: meaning, definitions and examples

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past

 

[ pæst ]

Noun / Adjective
Oxford 3000
Context #1 | Noun

in time

the time that has gone by

Synonyms

former times, history

Examples of usage

  • The past few years have been difficult for her.
  • He is always dwelling on the past.
  • We can't change the past, so let's focus on the future.
Context #2 | Adjective

completed

having existed or taken place in a period before the present

Synonyms

former, previous

Examples of usage

  • Her past achievements are impressive.
  • The past events shaped his future decisions.

Translations

Translations of the word "past" in other languages:

🇵🇹 passado

🇮🇳 अतीत

🇩🇪 Vergangenheit

🇮🇩 masa lalu

🇺🇦 минуле

🇵🇱 przeszłość

🇯🇵 過去 (kako)

🇫🇷 passé

🇪🇸 pasado

🇹🇷 geçmiş

🇰🇷 과거 (gwageo)

🇸🇦 ماضي (mādī)

🇨🇿 minulost

🇸🇰 minulosť

🇨🇳 过去 (guòqù)

🇸🇮 preteklost

🇮🇸 fortíð

🇰🇿 өткен шақ

🇬🇪 წარსული (ts'arsuli)

🇦🇿 keçmiş

🇲🇽 pasado

Etymology

The word 'past' originated from the Middle English word 'past', which in turn came from the Old French word 'past', meaning 'gone by'. It has been used in the English language since the 14th century. The concept of the past has intrigued philosophers, historians, and thinkers for centuries, leading to various theories and discussions about its impact on the present and future.

See also: antipasto, pasta, paste, pastime, pastor, pasture, pasty.

Word Frequency Rank

With position #353, this word is vital for basic English fluency. It appears very frequently in everyday language and should be among the first words you learn and actively use.