Search Results

Entry Found...

One entry found.

2 past

Function:

preposition

Meaning:

1 : at the farther side of (something) : beyond (a particular place) The office is two blocks past the intersection. Turn left just past the stairs.
2 : up to and beyond (a person or place) We drove past the house. I must have walked right past her. He looked past me to the next customer.
3 : later than (a time) We need to leave by half past two. [=2:30] It was past [=after, (Brit) gone] five o'clock by the time we got home. It's past his bedtime. The bill is past due. [=it is late; it should have been paid before now]
4 a : older than (an age) Now that he is past 60, he's thinking about retiring. b : beyond the age for (something) She is past playing with dolls.
5 : beyond or no longer at (a particular point) The milk is past its expiration date. The daffodils are past blooming. They tried marriage counseling, but they were already past the point of reconciling. The house is a mess, but she is past caring. [=she doesn't care] As a singer, he is past his prime. [=he is no longer as good at singing as he once was]
I wouldn't put it past (someone)
used to say that you would not be surprised if someone did something bad I wouldn't put it past him to lie. I don't know if she ever cheated on an exam, but I wouldn't put it past her.
past it
Brit informal : too old to do something or to be useful At the age of 45, he is past it as a football player.
Share this entry:    Share this word with digg Share this word with reddit Share this word with technorati Share this word with del.icio.us Share this word with furl Share this word with stumbleupon Share this word with google Share this word with blinklist Share this word with newsvine Share this word with facebook Share this word with myspace

Link to this page:   
Learn about the book...

Merriam-Webster's

Advanced Learner's Dictionary

It's here! The first learner's dictionary from America's language experts is the perfect resource for teachers and students of English as a second language, with over 100,000 words and phrases, loads of drawings and illustrations, and the most example sentences of any learner's dictionary. It also includes a free eBook download. Learn more here.

Browse the Learner's Dictionary

  1. A
  2. B
  3. C
  4. D
  5. E
  6. F
  7. G
  8. H
  9. I
  10. J
  11. K
  12. L
  13. M
  14. N
  15. O
  16. P
  17. Q
  18. R
  19. S
  20. T
  21. U
  22. V
  23. W
  24. X
  25. Y
  26. Z