past (1) definition - Dictionary

Dictionary

past [ past ] CORE MEANING: a grammatical word describing movement that involves passing or going beyond somebody or something

(prep) Walk past the library and you'll arrive at the park.

(adv) She walked right past without saying a word to us.

Definition:

1. preposition on farther side of something: on the farther side of or beyond something

the bakery past the school

2. preposition later: later than a particular time

It's twenty past seven.

past his bedtime

3. preposition beyond number, amount, or point: beyond a particular number, amount, or point, especially a point at which something can be done

Do what you like; I'm past caring.

[13th century. Past participle of pass]

not put it past somebody to believe that somebody is quite capable of doing something, usually something disreputable or outrageous (informal)

Word Usage


	past or passed? Do not confuse these two words. Consider these examples: He passed me at 80 mph;She is the past president of our sorority. In the first example, the past tense of the verb pass, which is passed, is required: He passed me.... In the second sentence the adjective past ("onetime, former") is required: She is the past president....