history
- 01 A1 Beginner
the study of past events, especially as a subject in school or university.
the academic discipline that examines and interprets past events through the analysis of records and evidence.
Simple“She decided to study history because she was fascinated by the French Revolution.”
In context“The university's history department recently published a groundbreaking study on the economic impact of the industrial revolution in northern England.”
Synonyms - 02 A2 Elementary
all the things that happened in the past.
the aggregate of past events or the period of time before the present.
Simple“This old building has a long and interesting history.”
In context“Throughout history, human civilisations have consistently settled near reliable water sources to ensure agricultural stability.”
Synonymsthe pastyesteryearAntonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
a record of the illnesses or medical conditions you or your family have had.
a chronological record of a patient's past and current medical conditions, treatments, and family health patterns.
Simple“The doctor asked if there was a history of heart disease in my family.”
In context“Before prescribing the new medication, the specialist carefully reviewed the patient's clinical history to check for potential drug interactions.”
Synonyms - 04 B1 Intermediate
a list of the websites you have visited on your computer or phone.
a digital log of previously visited web pages or user actions within an application.
Simple“I forgot the name of the shop, so I checked my browser history to find the link.”
In context“Privacy advocates recommend regularly clearing your search history to prevent third-party trackers from building a detailed profile of your interests.”
- 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
something or someone that is no longer important or no longer exists.
a person or thing that is no longer relevant, influential, or in existence.
Simple“If he fails this exam, his career at this company is history.”
In context“Once the new technology was released, the older models became history almost overnight as consumers flocked to the more efficient version.”
- 06 B2 Upper Intermediate
a period of time where two people or groups have known each other.
a shared background of interaction or experience between two or more parties.
Simple“The two countries have a complicated history of both war and trade.”
In context“Despite their current rivalry, the two CEOs have a long history of collaboration dating back to their early days at the same startup.”
Synonyms
Usage history section · histories freely · history of the universe
From Middle English historie, from Old French estoire, estorie (“chronicle, history, story”) (French histoire), from Latin historia, from Ancient Greek ἱστορίᾱ (historíā, “learning through research”), from ἱστορέω (historéō, “to research, inquire (and) record”), from ἵστωρ (hístōr, “the knowing, wise one”), from Proto-Indo-European *weyd- (“see, know”). Doublet of story and storey. Attested in Middle English in 1393 by John Gower, Confessio Amantis, which was aimed at an educated audience familiar with French and Latin.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.