WordGarden.iopast
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /pˈɑːst/
US
- /ˈpæst/
Meanings
Adjective
earlier than the present or already gone by
expressing earlier time in grammar
Noun
the time before the present or an earlier part of someone's life
Preposition
beyond or by a person, place, or point in movement
later than a stated time or beyond a temporal point
Beyond the definition
The "past" isn't just yesterday; it is the sum of everything that has occurred before this very moment. Think of it like a winding road: you can see the path you've already traveled (the past), the bend you are currently navigating (the present), and the horizon where you might go (the future). We learn from the past, sometimes regret it, and always carry its echoes with us.
You might talk about "past mistakes" or "a glorious past." It can describe a specific time frame, such as "in the past few years," or someone's earlier life, as in "He has a past in the military." It does not only refer to history; it also helps us talk about place and time. When you walk "past the library" or say it is "half past ten," you are describing movement or time that has gone beyond a certain point.
The word "past" refers to everything that has happened before the present moment—a vast landscape of memories, history, and what once was. It is a fundamental concept used to organize our understanding of time and experience. For example, one might say, "She left her troubled past behind to start a new life," or "Archaeologists study artifacts from the past to learn about ancient civilizations."
"Past" functions fluently as an adjective, a noun, and a preposition. As an adjective, it describes something belonging to a former time, such as "past glory," "past performance," or "a past relationship." As a noun, it refers to the entirety of time before now: "The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there," as L.P. Hartley famously wrote.
We often use "past" to specify when or how something occurred. We might look at objects "from the past" or reflect on events that happened "in the past year." It is also used to describe a person's background or hidden history, such as saying, "He has a criminal past."
Beyond history, "past" is essential for describing position and time. As a preposition or adverb, it means "beyond" or "after." If you walk "past the store," you have moved from one side of it to the other. In timekeeping, "quarter past five" means fifteen minutes have elapsed after the hour of five. Whether you are letting go of "water under the bridge" or studying the rise of empires, the "past" is the essential thread that connects where we started to where we are now.
Examples
- 1
Walking route
We walked past the bakery on the way home.
- 2
Traffic scene
A police car drove past with its lights flashing.
- 3
Clock time
It's twenty past six, so we should leave soon.
- Phrasetwenty past six
6:20
- 4
Late time
The party went on until past midnight.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Recent period
She has learned a lot in the past year.
- Patternin the past + time period
during the time up to now
- 6
Earlier life
We made some bad decisions in the past, but things are better now.
- 7
Memories
Don't keep thinking about the past.
- 8
Work experience
His past experience helped him get the job.
- 9
Deadline
The deadline is already past, so send the form today.
- 10
Difficulty
Once we got past the first problem, the rest was easy.
- Patternget past + difficulty
deal with something difficult and continue
- 11
Blocked view
I can't see past the bus in front of us.
- Patternsee past + obstacle
see beyond something that blocks your view
- 12
Frustration
After three hours of waiting, I was past caring.
- Phrasepast caring
no longer caring because you are too tired, upset, or annoyed
See also
Similar
- history
- former times
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Do not confuse
Used with (collocations)
- in the past
- the recent past
- the distant past
- learn from the past
Explore
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- pastnounadjectiveadverb
Forms
- pastspluralnounadjectiveadverb