past
past — preposition
1. at a place farther on than a chosen point, or moving by that point and beyond it
at a place farther on than a chosen point, or moving by that point and beyond it.
Our house is just past the bridge near the small bakery.
location beyond a landmark
The bus drove past the school before the rain started.
drive past + place
A narrow path runs past the lake and up the hill.
past + place in route description
Mina waved as Daniel cycled past the front gate.
movement past a person or place
- just past the bridge
- drive past the school
- walk past someone
- run past the lake
Grammar Patterns
go / walk / drive past + noun
be just past + landmark
Usage Note
With movement verbs, the object is the point that gets left behind. It is also common in directions for a place slightly farther on than a landmark.
Common Mistakes
2. used after a number of minutes to give the time after an hour has started.
used after a number of minutes to give the time after an hour has started.
The clock showed ten past six when the first train arrived.
time: minutes + past + hour
Please call me at a quarter past three.
a quarter past + hour
The meeting started at five past nine in Room 12.
at + five past nine
By twenty past one, the cafe was already full.
by + clock time with past
- ten past six
- five past nine
- a quarter past three
- twenty past one
- after
common especially in American English for clock time
- minutes after
more explicit wording, often used when explaining the pattern
Grammar Patterns
[minutes] + past + [hour]
a quarter / half past + [hour]
Usage Note
This sense is only for minutes after the hour. In American English, 'after' is also used, but 'past' works in both British and American English.
Common Mistakes
3. later than a stated time or age, or beyond a level that can be reached or handle
later than a stated time or age, or beyond a level that can be reached or handled.
Children past age five can join the summer reading club.
past + age expression
We were still awake past midnight, waiting for the test results.
past + time point
The shop will not accept coupons past the printed date.
past + deadline or date
The math book was past Leo's level by sixth grade.
be past + someone's level
- past age five
- past midnight
- past the printed date
- past Leo's level
Grammar Patterns
past + age / midnight / deadline
be past + someone's level / reach
Usage Note
Unlike sense 2, this sense is not limited to clock time after the hour. It often follows words for age, midnight, dates, deadlines, or someone's ability.
Common Mistakes
past — adjective
1. used with a time word for the stretch leading up to now or to a moment that has
used with a time word for the stretch leading up to now or to a moment that has just ended.
The past week has been very busy at the hospital.
the past + time period
Rain has damaged the road over the past two months.
over the past + period
In the past year, Nora has learned to cook.
in the past + year
The town changed a lot during the past decade.
during the past + period
- the past week
- the past year
- over the past two months
- during the past decade
Grammar Patterns
the past + week / month / year
in / over / during the past + period
Usage Note
This sense is mainly used with time periods such as week, month, year, and decade. Distinguish it from adjective sense 2, which describes earlier events, experiences, or roles rather than a period leading up to now.
Common Mistakes
2. from an older stage in life or history, or naming a role someone had before but
from an older stage in life or history, or naming a role someone had before but does not have now.
Her past jobs included work in a small family bakery.
past + jobs
Several past presidents attended the university dinner last night.
past + office holders
The lawyer studied past cases before speaking in court.
past + records or cases
During the interview, Maya described her past experience in hotel kitchens.
past + experience
- past jobs
- past presidents
- past cases
- past experiences
Grammar Patterns
past + experience / cases / jobs
past + president / chairman / owner
Usage Note
This sense stays before a noun. It can describe old events, relationships, or experiences, and it also appears with titles for people who once had a role. Distinguish from sense 1, which is restricted to time periods such as 'the past year'.
Common Mistakes
3. finished or safely over, so it is no longer happening or a danger.
finished or safely over, so it is no longer happening or a danger.
By noon, the worst of the storm was past.
the worst is past
By dawn, the crisis was past and the nurses sat down.
crisis was past
By evening, the trouble was past and the children laughed again.
trouble was past
The danger was past after the fire crews arrived.
danger was past
- the worst was past
- the danger was past
- fear was past
- be mostly past
Grammar Patterns
be past
the worst / danger is past
Usage Note
This sense usually follows a form of 'be'. Common subjects are danger, worst, fear, crisis, and trouble. It is not normally placed before a noun.
Common Mistakes
4. used in grammar for verb forms that show something happened before now.
used in grammar for verb forms that show something happened before now.
In 'walked', the ending shows the past form.
past form in grammar talk
Ms. Chen asked the class to change the sentence into past tense.
into past tense
The verb 'was' is a past form of 'be'.
past form of a verb
This worksheet practices past tense with words like yesterday.
past tense with time words
- past tense
- past form
- simple past
- past verb
- past-tense
hyphenated adjective used before another noun
- preterite
technical grammar term, more formal and less common for learners
Grammar Patterns
past tense
past form
simple past
Usage Note
This sense belongs to grammar explanations and usually appears with words such as tense, form, or simple. It is not the ordinary time meaning of 'past'.
Common Mistakes
past — noun
1. the time before now, or the things that happened in that earlier time.
the time before now, or the things that happened in that earlier time.
People in the village still talk about floods from the past.
from the past
The film mixes scenes from the present and the past.
the present and the past
At the museum, Ken stared at photos of the town's past.
the town's past
Old letters can teach children about life in the past.
in the past
- the past
- from the past
- in the past
- learn from the past
- history
broader; can also mean the academic subject or a recorded story of events
- former times
more descriptive and slightly formal
- the old days
informal and often nostalgic
Grammar Patterns
the past
in / from the past
learn from the past
Usage Note
This noun usually appears as 'the past'. It can mean earlier time in general, or events and life from that time. Distinguish from noun sense 2, which focuses on one person's private or shameful background.
Common Mistakes
2. a person's earlier life, especially parts involving crime, shame, or secrets.
a person's earlier life, especially parts involving crime, shame, or secrets.
The reporter found a violent past behind the smiling actor.
adjective + past for hidden background
Lena never told her children that prison was part of her past.
part of someone's past
Voters worried about the mayor's dishonest past before the election.
describing adjective + past
His criminal past made banks refuse his loan application.
criminal past
- violent past
- criminal past
- dishonest past
- hide your past
- background
more neutral; not always negative or secret
- history
can fit, but it is broader and less personal in tone
- record
often narrower, especially for official or criminal information
- present
someone's life or situation now
Grammar Patterns
someone's past
criminal / troubled / violent past
Usage Note
This sense normally points to one person's background and often carries judgment or secrecy. It is much narrower than noun sense 1, which means earlier time in general.
Common Mistakes
3. the verb tense, or a verb in that tense, that shows something happened earlier t
the verb tense, or a verb in that tense, that shows something happened earlier than now.
In English, 'ate' is the past of 'eat'.
the past of + verb
The teacher wrote the past and present on the board.
the past and present in grammar contrast
Children usually learn the past after the present tense.
learn the past
This exercise asks students to change verbs into the past.
change verbs into the past
- the past of 'eat'
- learn the past
- change into the past
- in the past tense
- past tense
the clearest full term for learners
- preterite
technical term used in grammar books
- present tense
grammar form for actions or states now
- future tense
grammar form or label for later time reference
Grammar Patterns
the past
the past tense
the past of + verb
Usage Note
In grammar lessons, 'the past tense' is often clearer than just 'the past', especially when there could be confusion with noun sense 1.
Common Mistakes
past — adverb
1. in a way that goes by a person, place, or point and continues beyond it.
in a way that goes by a person, place, or point and continues beyond it.
A black car sped past and splashed water on us.
verb + past without object
I looked up as two runners went past.
went past without naming an object
The dog slipped past and ran into the garden.
slipped past
Clouds drifted past while we waited on the roof.
drifted past
- speed past
- go past
- slip past
- drift past
Grammar Patterns
go / run / drive past
slip / drift / speed past
Usage Note
Unlike the preposition sense, this adverb stands alone without an object after it. Compare 'The bus drove past the school' with 'The bus drove past.'
Common Mistakes
Synonym discussion
Sense: adjective/2
These words all point back in time, but they do different jobs. 'Past' works well for experiences, events, records, and people who once held a role: 'past cases', 'past president'. 'Former' is strongest for roles or relationships that ended, such as 'former coach' or 'former wife'. 'Previous' is the most neutral when you compare one thing with the one before it in a sequence: 'the previous page' or 'my previous job'. 'Earlier' simply means closer to the beginning in time. 'Old' is broader and often means not new, so it does not always match this sense of 'past'. Compare: 'She learned from past mistakes,' but 'my previous answer was shorter,' and 'the former manager still visits the office.'
Etymology
Originally, 'past' was the past participle form of the Middle English verb 'passen', meaning 'pass'. From the basic idea of going by and beyond a point, English later built the time meanings of 'past' ('after a time' and 'before now') and the noun meaning 'time that has gone by'.