past tense

American  

[past tens] / ˈpæst ˈtɛns /

Also past

noun

Grammar.

• past tenses
  plural

1. (in English) the simple past.

2. 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.

3. an instance or form of a specific verb expressing a past action or state.

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• past tenses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of past tense

First recorded in 1650–60

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

past tense

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

But why, she wondered, was this beloved hometown mentioned only in the past tense?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 16, 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

So, except at the gallows, hung is the correct past tense of hang-.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner