past tense
Americannoun
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(in English) the simple past.
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any verb formation or construction used to express an action or state occurring in the past, such as, in English, the past progressive, present perfect, and pluperfect tenses.
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an instance or form of a specific verb expressing a past action or state.
Etymology
Origin of past tense
First recorded in 1650–60
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The myth loomed large, but it was past tense -- until now.
From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026
Berezin and colleagues present their analysis in the form of a time-traveling review from early January 2027, and so we will adhere to their use of the past tense.
From MarketWatch • Dec. 15, 2025
How many words does Ellie have now, not counting like the past tense of a verb or something?
From Salon • Nov. 2, 2025
"Elon and I had a great relationship," Trump said on Thursday – a comment notable for its use of the past tense.
From BBC • Jun. 5, 2025
Dived is the traditional past tense for what Esther Williams did off a diving board, though authorities now accept dove in all but formal writing.
From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
