English - Hungarian

history

gb/hˈɪstɚi/ us/hˈɪstɚi/
A2 English
~ 600
történelem, történet, múlt, előélet, kórelőzmény
NOUN A2
1
Usage pattern:
[someone] studies history
She is studying world history at university.
Az egyetemen világtörténelmet tanul.
The book gives a detailed history of the city.
A könyv részletesen bemutatja a város történetét.
History tells us that such conflicts are common.
Learner examples
I like to read about history.
Szeretek történelemről olvasni.
We learn history at school.
Az iskolában történelmet tanulunk.
History is about things that happened before.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'history' with 'story'; 'history' refers to real past events, while 'story' can be fiction.
Meaning
Study or record of past events
Collocations
ancient history |modern history |world history |history lesson |history book
Synonyms
chronicle (Usually a detailed written account of events in order of time)
Antonyms
future (Refers to events that have not yet happened, opposite of past events)
Themes
education |culture |time |core_vocabulary
Definition

The study or story of things that happened in the past.

The study of or a written or spoken account of past events, particularly in human affairs.

NOUN B1
2
Usage pattern:
in history
Throughout history, people have sought freedom.
A történelem során az emberek mindig szabadságra törekedtek.
This event changed the course of history.
Ez az esemény megváltoztatta a történelem menetét.
It was the first time in history that women could vote.
Learner examples
Many wars happened in history.
A történelem során sok háború történt.
In history, people used horses to travel.
A múltban az emberek lovakkal közlekedtek.
This is an important day in history.
Common mistake:
Sometimes learners use 'histories' incorrectly when referring to general past events; 'history' is usually uncountable in this sense.
Meaning
All past events collectively
Collocations
throughout history |in history |moment in history
Synonyms
past (General term for time before now; less formal and can be personal or historical)
Antonyms
present (The current moment, not the past)
Themes
time |culture |core_vocabulary
Definition

Everything that has happened in the past.

The whole series of past events, especially relating to human affairs.

NOUN B1
3
Usage pattern:
[someone] has a history of [something]
He has a history of heart problems.
Korábban már voltak szívproblémái.
The suspect has a long criminal history.
A gyanúsítottnak hosszú bűnügyi múltja van.
Her family has a history of working in education.
Learner examples
I have a history of allergies.
Korábban is voltak allergiás panaszaim.
He has a criminal history.
Bűnügyi múltja van.
My family has a history of teachers.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'history' with 'story' when talking about personal background; 'history' is factual, 'story' can be made up.
Meaning
Past experiences or background
Collocations
medical history |criminal history |family history
Synonyms
background (More general term for someone's life details; not always about events)
Antonyms
clean record (No negative events in someone's background)
Themes
personal |health |core_vocabulary
Definition

Information about what someone or something did in the past.

A record or account of someone's or something's past actions, experiences, or medical conditions.

Grammar
Dictionary form
history
IPA
GB/hˈɪstɚi/
US/hˈɪstɚi/
Syllables & stress
his - tory (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (his)
Word forms
Noun
  • Base: history
  • Plural: histories, history
Word family
Forms
histories noun
Core family
historical adjective B1 historically adverb B1 historian noun B1
Related words
historic adjective B1 prehistory noun prehistoric adjective B2
Advanced or less common
historiography noun historiographical adjective
Expressions

a piece of history

1
/ə pˈis əv hˈɪstɚi/
fixed phrase

Object or event from the past with value

Something from the past that is important or interesting.

Examples
  • Owning this old letter is like holding a piece of history.
  • That building is a piece of history in our town.

the rest is history

1
/ðə ɹˈɛst ˈɪz hˈɪstɚi/
idiom informal

Outcome after an event is obvious or famous

Used to say that everyone knows what happened after something started.

Examples
  • They met at college, and the rest is history.
  • He started his own business, and the rest is history.

go down in history

1
/ɡˈoʊ dˈaʊn ˈɪn hˈɪstɚi/
idiom

Be remembered in history

To be remembered as an important person or event in the past.

Examples
  • The day will go down in history as one of the greatest victories.
  • His speech will go down in history for its powerful message.

go down in history

2
/ɡˈoʊ dˈaʊn ˈɪn hˈɪstɚi/
idiom

Be remembered as historically important

To be remembered as an important person or event in the future.

Examples
  • This day will go down in history as a turning point.
  • The speech went down in history for its powerful message.

history repeats itself

1
/hˈɪstɚi ɹɪpˈits ɪtsˈɛlf/
idiom

Past events happen again

Things that happened before often happen again in a similar way.

Examples
  • They say history repeats itself when people make the same mistakes as in the past.
  • Wars show that history repeats itself.

history repeats itself

2
/hˈɪstɚi ɹɪpˈits ɪtsˈɛlf/
idiom

Similar events recur over time

The same kinds of events happen again and again over time.

Examples
  • Some say history repeats itself in politics.
  • History repeats itself when lessons are not learned.

make history

1
/mˈeɪk hˈɪstɚi/
idiom

Do something memorable for history

To do something very important that people will remember in the future.

Examples
  • She made history by becoming the first woman to win the award.
  • The team made history with their record-breaking victory.

make history

2
/mˈeɪk hˈɪstɚi/
idiom

Do something historic or unprecedented

To do something important that will be remembered in the future.

Examples
  • The team made history by winning the championship for the first time.
  • She made history as the first woman to lead the company.

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