What does "past" mean?
The period of time that has already happened, in contrast to the present and the future.
Past
/pɑːst/ adj, adv, noun, prep, verb
adj, adv, noun, prep, verb ·Common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The period of time that has already happened, in contrast to the present and the future.
- Grammar: past is listed as adj, adv, noun, prep, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: past tense, yesteryear, above, above and beyond.
- Useful contrasts: future, present, actual conditions.
- Usage evidence: The past can only be known, not changed. The future can only be changed, not known.
How to use "past"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "past" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "past" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "past" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "past" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "past" is acting as adj, adv, noun, prep, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "past tense" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "past", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The period of time that has already happened, in contrast to the present and the future.
"a book about a time machine that can transport people back into the past"
- 2 a verb tense that expresses actions or states in the past wordnet
- 3 The past tense.
- 4 the time that has elapsed wordnet
- 5 a earlier period in someone's life (especially one that they have reason to keep secret) wordnet
Verb
- 1 simple past and past participle of pass form-of, obsolete, participle, past
"Great Tuscane dames, as she their towns past by, / Wisht her their daughter-in-law, but frustrately."
Adjective
- 1 Having already happened; in the past; finished.
"past glories"
- 2 Following expressions of time to indicate how long ago something happened; ago.
"That had been, what, three years past?"
- 3 Of a period of time: having just gone by; previous.
"during the past year"
- 4 Of a tense, expressing action that has already happened or a previously-existing state.
"past tense"
Adjective
- 1 of a person who has held and relinquished a position or office wordnet
- 2 earlier than the present time; no longer current wordnet
Adverb
- 1 In a direction that passes.
"I watched him walk past."
Adverb
- 1 so as to pass a given point wordnet
Preposition
- 1 Beyond in place or quantity.
"the room past mine"
- 2 Any number of minutes after the last hour.
"What's the time? - It's now quarter past twelve midday (or 12.15pm) -O,K., we'll stop at half (past) twelve"
- 3 No longer capable of.
"I'm past caring what he thinks of me."
- 4 Having recovered or moved on from (a traumatic experience, etc.).
- 5 Passing by, especially without stopping or being delayed.
"Ignore them, we'll play past them."
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"The past can only be known, not changed. The future can only be changed, not known."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "past"?
Common synonyms include: past tense, yesteryear, above, above and beyond, above asking price, across.
How do you use "past" in a sentence?
The past can only be known, not changed. The future can only be changed, not known.
How do you pronounce "past"?
Pronounced /pɑːst/.
Etymology
From Middle English passed, past participle of passen (“to pass, to go by”), whence Modern English pass.