history

[ his-tuh-ree, his-tree ]

/ ˈhɪs tə ri, ˈhɪs tri /

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See synonyms for history on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural his·to·ries.

the branch of knowledge dealing with past events.

a continuous, systematic narrative of past events as relating to a particular people, country, period, person, etc., usually written as a chronological account; chronicle: a history of France; a medical history of the patient.

the aggregate of past events.

the record of past events and times, especially in connection with the human race.

a past notable for its important, unusual, or interesting events: a ship with a history.

acts, ideas, or events that will or can shape the course of the future; immediate but significant happenings: Firsthand observers of our space program see history in the making.

a systematic account of any set of natural phenomena without particular reference to time: a history of the American eagle.

a drama representing historical events: Shakespeare's comedies, histories, and tragedies.

OTHER WORDS FOR history

2 record, annals.

See synonyms for history on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of history

1350–1400; Middle English historie <Latin historia <Greek historía “learning or knowing by inquiry, history”; derivative of hístōr “one who knows or sees” (akin to wit², video, Veda )

synonym study for history

2. See narrative.

OTHER WORDS FROM history

un·der·his·to·ry, noun, plural un·der·his·to·ries.un·his·to·ry, noun, plural un·his·to·ries.

Words nearby history

Historic Places Trust, historied, historiographer, historiography, historrhexis, history, histosol, histotome, histotomy, histotoxic, histotoxic anoxia

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use history in a sentence

If so, it’s because Facebook identified you as someone who has the potential to lead the group, as you don’t have a history of violations.
Facebook tries to clean up Groups with new policies|Sarah Perez|September 17, 2020|TechCrunch
“Encores” is a weekly online series highlighting past performances from the historic Folger stage, recalling the rich history of public programming at the Folger.
D.C. theater scene adapts with films, concerts, and more|Patrick Folliard|September 17, 2020|Washington Blade
Five of California’s 10 largest fires in modern history are all burning at once.
Suppressing fires has failed. Here’s what California needs to do instead.|James Temple|September 17, 2020|MIT Technology Review
So Brazil has an unfortunate history of sensitive data finding its way onto the internet.
Podcast: COVID-19 is helping turn Brazil into a surveillance state|Anthony Green|September 16, 2020|MIT Technology Review

Three of the largest fires in history burned simultaneously in a ring around the San Francisco Bay Area.
Climate Change Will Force a New American Migration|by Abrahm Lustgarten, photography by Meridith Kohut|September 15, 2020|ProPublica
As an example of good science-and-society policymaking, the history of fluoride may be more of a cautionary tale.
Anti-Fluoriders Are The OG Anti-Vaxxers|Michael Schulson|July 27, 2016|DAILY BEAST
Certain features of its history suggest why this may be the case.
Anti-Fluoriders Are The OG Anti-Vaxxers|Michael Schulson|July 27, 2016|DAILY BEAST
The well, ghost or no ghost, is certainly a piece of history with a bold presence.
New York’s Most Tragic Ghost Loves Minimalist Swedish Fashion|Nina Strochlic|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
“Lockheed Martin has a long history of misrepresenting facts,” Wheeler added.
Pentagon Misfires in Stealth Jet Scandal|Dave Majumdar|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Although Huckabee's condescending tone - like that of an elementary school history teacher - makes it difficult to take seriously.
Huckabee 2016: Bend Over and Take It Like a Prisoner!|Olivia Nuzzi|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The well-worn aphorism of the Frenchman, “History repeats itself,” was about to assert itself.
Checkmate|Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
Had not this Indian plant been discovered, the whole history of some portions of America would have been far different.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.
Be Bry in his History of Brazil describes its use and also some interesting particulars concerning the plant.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.
I cannot see in science, nor in experience, nor in history any signs of such a God, nor of such intervention.
God and my Neighbour|Robert Blatchford
History gives them scant notice, and the Federal government has failed to reward them as they deserve.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn

British Dictionary definitions for history

history

/ (ˈhɪstərɪ, ˈhɪstrɪ) /

noun plural -ries

a record or account, often chronological in approach, of past events, developments, etc
(as modifier)a history book; a history play

all that is preserved or remembered of the past, esp in written form

the discipline of recording and interpreting past events involving human beings

past events, esp when considered as an aggregate

an event in the past, esp one that has been forgotten or reduced in importancetheir quarrel was just history

the past, background, previous experiences, etc, of a thing or personthe house had a strange history

computing a stored list of the websites that a user has recently visited

a play that depicts or is based on historical events

a narrative relating the events of a character's lifethe history of Joseph Andrews

Abbreviation (for senses 1–3): hist

Word Origin for history

C15: from Latin historia, from Greek: enquiry, from historein to narrate, from histōr judge

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with history

history

see ancient history; go down (in history); make history; (history) repeats itself.

history

OTHER WORDS FOR history

Origin of history

synonym study for history

OTHER WORDS FROM history

Words nearby history

Words related to history

How to use history in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for history

Word Origin for history

Other Idioms and Phrases with history