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
When we talk about media failures and war, we refer to them in the past tense.
From Salon • Mar. 2, 2026
While it is still difficult for Kumar to refer to his daughter in the past tense, he said Grace was behind his motivation to keep pursuing accountability.
From BBC • Feb. 21, 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
She did not know whether he was using the past tense because his daughter no longer danced or because he no longer had a daughter, and she feared the answer.
From "Breadcrumbs" by Anne Ursu
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.
