in the past

Part of Speech:

All (5) Adjective (1) Adverb (4)

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finished adj.
already adv.
before adv.
formerly adv.
previously adv.

ADJECTIVE

finished

Synonyms

STRONGEST

closed concluded decided ended full realized resolved satisfied settled stopped

STRONG

accomplished achieved ceased compassed consummated discharged dispatched effected effectuated elaborated executed finalized fulfilled lapsed made perfected performed shut terminated

WEAK

brought about come to an end disposed of done for done with entire final over over and done put into effect sewn-up through tied-up worked out wound-up wrapped-up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

incomplete

WEAK

unfinished

ADVERB

already

Synonyms

STRONGEST

before earlier once previously then

WEAK

as of now at present before now but now by now by that time by the time mentioned by then by this time even now formerly heretofore just now now up to now

Antonyms

STRONGEST

later

ADVERB

before

Synonyms

STRONGEST

ahead back previously since sooner

WEAK

afore aforetime ante antecedently anteriorly before present ere fore former formerly forward heretofore in advance in days of yore in front in the old days past precendently previous up to now

Antonyms

WEAK

after afterward behind later

ADVERB

formerly

Synonyms

STRONGEST

already earlier heretofore once

STRONG

erstwhile

WEAK

a while back aforetime anciently at one time away back back back when before before now before this down memory lane eons ago erewhile in former times in the olden days lately long ago of old of yore olden days once upon a time radically some time ago time was used to be water under the bridge

Antonyms

WEAK

currently future presently subsequently

ADVERB

previously

Synonyms

STRONGEST

already formerly heretofore hitherto long ago once then

STRONG

antecedently

WEAK

a while ago ahead ante at one time away back back back when before beforehand erstwhile fore forward in advance in anticipation in days gone by precedently time was until now

Antonyms

WEAK

currently future later presently

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.

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in the past

Happy Meals and other toy promos were geared toward children in the past.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 19, 2026

In a decade, the DSA has gone from roughly 6,000 members to 120,000, marking some of its biggest gains in the past year or so.

From Slate ● Sep. 18, 2026

The UK's biggest festival, Glastonbury - which is broadcast on the BBC - offers worldwide exposure for artists, but Eavis has been open in the past about paying headliners far less than they'd get elsewhere.

From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026

Transits across the Caspian Sea have grown by 70% in the past five months, according to Iranian officials.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026

Many times in the past five years he’d wondered if he’d imagined the entire conversation with the mysterious woman the hospital chaplain had summoned.

From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

in the past

Example Sentences

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