past Definition
- 1gone by in time and no longer existing
- 2denoting something that has happened or existed before now
Using past: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "past" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The past year has been difficult for me.
Example
He regrets his past mistakes.
Example
I can't change the past.
Example
She is living in the past and can't move on.
past Synonyms and Antonyms
Idioms Using past
Example
It's time to put your past mistakes behind you and start fresh.
Example
I know we had our differences in the past, but let's just let bygones be bygones and consider it water under the bridge.
to focus too much on things that have happened in the past and not enough on the present or future
Example
She needs to stop living in the past and start thinking about what she wants to do with her life now.
Phrases with past
Example
In the past, people used to write letters instead of sending emails.
Example
With the advent of smartphones, flip phones are now a thing of the past.
Example
The company's history of innovation suggests that they will continue to be a leader in their industry; after all, the past is prologue.
Origins of past
from Old English 'paest', meaning 'passed, having gone by'
Summary: past in Brief
The term 'past' [pæst] refers to something that has already happened or existed before now. It can denote anything from a previous year to a regretted mistake, as in 'He regrets his past mistakes.' 'Past' extends into phrases like 'in the past,' and idioms like 'water under the bridge,' denoting something that cannot be changed or undone. It also includes 'live in the past,' which means to focus too much on things that have happened in the past.
