past
gb/pˈæst/ us/pˈæst/
A2
English
~ 1500
múlt, korábbi, elmúlt, volt, után, mellett, túl, elhalad, el-
NOUN
A2
1
múlt
A2
Usage pattern:
the past
We can learn a lot from the mistakes of the past.
Sokat tanulhatunk a múlt hibáiból.
In the past, people traveled by horse and carriage.
Régen az emberek lovas kocsival utaztak.
She prefers not to talk about her past.
The country has a troubled past.
Our friendship goes back to the distant past.
Learner examples
I want to forget my past.
El akarom felejteni a múltamat.
In the past, I lived in Spain.
Régebben Spanyolországban éltem.
He talks about his past often.
The past is important to remember.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'past' with 'passed'. 'Past' is usually a noun, adjective, adverb, or preposition about time; 'passed' is the past tense of 'pass'.
Meaning
time before now
Collocations
in the past
|the distant past
|learn from the past
|past experience
|past events
Synonyms
history (More formal or academic, often referring to recorded events.)
Antonyms
future (Refers to the time that has not yet happened.)
Themes
time
|history
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The time that happened before now.
The period of time that has already happened before the present moment.
A2
2
Usage pattern:
past [event/time]
Over the past year, sales have increased.
Az elmúlt egy évben nőttek az eladások.
She is a past champion of the tournament.
Ő a verseny korábbi bajnoka.
During the past week, it has rained every day.
Past winners are invited to the ceremony.
Learner examples
I met him in the past week.
Az elmúlt héten találkoztam vele.
She is a past teacher of mine.
Ő az egyik volt tanárom.
The past month was very busy.
Meaning
before now in time
Collocations
past year
|past week
|past experience
|past president
Synonyms
former (Refers specifically to something that once held a particular status or role.)
Antonyms
present (Refers to the current or existing time or state.)
Themes
time
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Happened or was true before now.
Happening or existing before the present time; former.
A2
3
Usage pattern:
past [time/place]
It’s already ten minutes past midnight.
Már tíz perccel elmúlt éjfél.
We walked past the library on our way home.
Hazafelé elsétáltunk a könyvtár mellett.
She ran past me without saying hello.
Learner examples
It is five minutes past six.
Öt perccel múlt hat.
I walk past the school every day.
Mindennap elsétálok az iskola mellett.
The bus stop is just past the park.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'past' with 'passed' here. 'Past' is used as a preposition; 'passed' is a verb form.
Meaning
beyond a point in time/space
Collocations
past midnight
|walk past the store
|ten minutes past three
Synonyms
beyond (Often used for abstract limits as well as physical distance.)
Antonyms
before (Indicates earlier in time or position ahead in space.)
Themes
time
|movement
|space
|core_vocabulary
Definition
After a point in time or further than a place.
Further than a particular point in time or space.
B1
4
The car sped past at high speed.
Az autó nagy sebességgel száguldott el mellettünk.
She hurried past without stopping.
Megállás nélkül elsietett mellettünk.
Time seemed to fly past during the holiday.
Learner examples
The bus went past my house.
A busz elhaladt a házam előtt.
He ran past very fast.
Nagyon gyorsan elszaladt mellettünk.
The day went past quickly.
Meaning
moving beyond a point
Collocations
go past quickly
|rush past
Synonyms
by (Simpler and more general, often interchangeable in spatial contexts.)
Antonyms
towards (Indicates movement in the direction of something rather than beyond it.)
Themes
movement
|time
|space
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Going by or further than a place or time.
Going by or beyond a particular point in space or time.
Grammar
Dictionary form
past
IPA
GB/pˈæst/
US/pˈæst/
Syllables & stress
past (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (past)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: past
Noun
- Base: past
- Plural: pasts
Word family
Expressions
a thing of the past
1/ə θˈɪŋ əv ðə pˈæst/
idiom
no longer existing/happening
Something that does not exist or happen anymore.
Examples
- Typewriters are now a thing of the past.
- Smoking in offices is largely a thing of the past.
a thing of the past
7/ə θˈɪŋ əv ðə pˈæst/
idiom
no longer used or present
Something people do not use or do anymore.
Examples
- For many travelers, paper boarding passes are becoming a thing of the past.
- The company hopes long checkout lines will soon be a thing of the past.
- In some offices, fixed desks are already a thing of the past.
Learner examples
- CD players are almost a thing of the past.
- With online forms, handwritten applications may become a thing of the past.
in the past
1/ˈɪn ðə pˈæst/
fixed phrase
at an earlier time
At a time before now.
Examples
- In the past, people used candles for light.
- She was very shy in the past.
past due
1/pˈæst dˈu/
fixed phrase
late beyond deadline/date
Happening or done after the date it should have been done.
Examples
- My rent payment is two days past due.
- The library book is past due.
past due
5/pˈæst dˈu/
fixed phrase
overdue
If a payment, bill, or task is past due, it is late.
Examples
- Your payment is now past due.
- The account is more than 60 days past due.
- I returned the past-due library books yesterday.
Learner examples
- I got an email saying my bill is past due.
- The rent is past due, so I need to pay it today.
past its prime
1/pˈæst ˈɪts pɹˈaɪm/
idiom
no longer at best stage/condition
Not as good as before; not at the best stage anymore.
Examples
- This old theater is past its prime.
- He’s still good, but clearly past his prime as an athlete.