Idiom idiom
in the past
Meaning
At a time before now. You use this to talk about things that happened or were true before the present moment.
Examples
“I lived in the past in a small town.”
“We do not worry about those mistakes anymore because they are firmly in the past.”
“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