past
pronunciation
How to pronounce past in British English:
UK [pɑːst]
How to pronounce past in American English:
US [pæst]
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- Noun:
- the time that has elapsed
- a earlier period in someone's life (especially one that they have reason to keep secret)
- a verb tense that expresses actions or states in the past
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- Adjective:
- earlier than the present time; no longer current
- of a person who has held and relinquished a position or office
- a verb tense or other construction referring to events or states that existed at some previous time
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- Adverb:
- so as to pass a given point
Word Origin
- past
- past: [13] Past originated simply as a variant spelling of passed, the past participle of pass. The earliest unequivocal examples of it are as a preposition, but its adjectival use followed in the 14th century, and by the 16th century it was being employed as a noun too (the past).=> pass
- past (adj.)
- c. 1300, "done with, over," from past participle of passen "go by" (see pass (v.)). Past participle is recorded from 1798; past tense from 1813.
- past (n.)
- "times gone by," 1580s, from past (adj.).
Example
- 1. People tend to compare their situations to their past .
- 2. Kodak 's glorious past was just too alluring .
- 3. The point is to find common ground between your past successes and what an employer needs right now . "
- 4. Based on past results , wal-mart is an extraordinary financial star .
- 5. Don 't limit your list to past colleagues .