past Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun the time that has elapsed
past times; yesteryear.
- forget the past
noun a earlier period in someone's life (especially one that they have reason to keep secret)
- reporters dug into the candidate's past
noun a verb tense that expresses actions or states in the past
past tense.
adjective earlier than the present time; no longer current
- time past
- his youth is past
- this past Thursday
- the past year
adjective satellite of a person who has held and relinquished a position or office
retiring; preceding.
- a retiring member of the board
adverb so as to pass a given point
by.
- every hour a train goes past

From Pass, v.

Of or pertaining to a former time or state; neither present nor future; gone by; elapsed; ended; spent; as, past troubles; past offences. "Past ages." Milton.

A former time or state; a state of things gone by. "The past, at least, is secure." D. Webster.
The present is only intelligible in the light of the past, often a very remote past indeed. Trench.

Beyond, in position, or degree; further than; beyond the reach or influence of. "Who being past feeling." Eph. iv. 19. "Galled past endurance." Macaulay.
Until we be past thy borders. Num. xxi. 22.

Love, when once past government, is consequently past shame. L'Estrange.
Beyond, in time; after; as, past the hour.
Is it not past two o'clock? Shak.
Above; exceeding; more than. R.
Not past three quarters of a mile. Shak.

Bows not past three quarters of a yard long. Spenser.