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past

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adverb, preposition British English pronunciation: past /pɑːst/
Past can be used in the following ways:
as a preposition (followed by a noun): It's past your bedtime. ♦ I walked past the post office.
as an adverb (without a following noun): A policeman walked past. ♦ Months went past and nothing happened.
 
Other entries for this word
  1. 1
    after a particular time
    1. a.
      used for saying what time it is when it is not more than thirty minutes after one, two etc o'clock

      I'll meet you at half past five.

      It's exactly ten past three.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of past
    2. b.
      later than a particular time

      It was past midnight by the time we arrived.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of past
  2. 2
    going near someone or something while you are on your way to another place

    I walked past several hotels on my way to the petrol station.

    He got the ball and headed it past Mitchell.

    The river winds its way past the picturesque village of Comrie.

    The thieves somehow got past all the alarms.

    She heard music coming from inside the van as it drove past.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of past
  3. 3
    further than a particular place along a road, path, river etc

    Turn right a mile past the graveyard and you'll see the church.

    just past:

    You'll find the town about 80 miles south of Missoula, just past Darby.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of past
  4. 4
    looking towards a place behind someone or something instead of directly at them
    right past:

    I tried to catch his eye, but he stared right past me.

    straight past:

    Tom seemed to be looking straight past me at the wall.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of past
  5. 5
    used for saying that someone or something has passed a particular stage or point

    He was past his prime as a player by then.

    I tried to read the book, but couldn't get past the first chapter.

  6. 6
    used for saying that a period of time passes

    The months went past, and still no word from her.

    The days seem to be just whizzing past.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of past
  7. 7
    used for saying that your attitudes or feelings have changed in such a way that you no longer think about something

    I used to worry about him coming home late, but now I'm past caring.

phrases

This is the British English definition of past. View American English definition of past.

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View the pronunciation for past.

 

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