ENGLISH
REFERENCE

in the past

idiom
A1
Meaning

At a time before now. You use this to talk about things that happened or were true before the present moment.

Examples
SIMPLE

I lived in the past in a small town.

CONTEXTUAL

We do not worry about those mistakes anymore because they are firmly in the past.

COMPLEX

While he often romanticized the traditions of the past, he understood that modern progress was necessary for their future success.

Last updated April 22, 2026