history

American  

[his-tuh-ree, his-tree] / ˈhɪs tə ri, ˈhɪs tri /

noun

• histories
  plural

1. the branch of knowledge dealing with past events.

2. 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.

   Synonyms:

   annals, record

3. the aggregate of past events.

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

5. a past notable for its important, unusual, or interesting events.

   a ship with a history.

6. 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.

7. a systematic account of any set of natural phenomena without particular reference to time.

   a history of the American eagle.

8. a drama representing historical events.

   Shakespeare's comedies, histories, and tragedies.

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history British  

/ ˈhɪstrɪ, ˈhɪstərɪ /

noun

1. 1. a record or account, often chronological in approach, of past events, developments, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      a history book

      a history play

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

3. the discipline of recording and interpreting past events involving human beings

4. past events, esp when considered as an aggregate

5. an event in the past, esp one that has been forgotten or reduced in importance

   their quarrel was just history

6. the past, background, previous experiences, etc, of a thing or person

   the house had a strange history

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

8. a play that depicts or is based on historical events

9. a narrative relating the events of a character's life

   the history of Joseph Andrews

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history Idioms  

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

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Synonym Usage

See narrative.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• underhistory
  noun
• unhistory
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• histories
  plural

Etymology

Origin of history

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English historie, from Latin historia, from Greek historía “learning or knowing by inquiry, history”; derivative of hístōr “one who knows or sees; learned”; akin to wit ², video, Veda

Explanation

A history is a chronicle of events, like the history of the United States’ mission to put a man on the moon, or the world history class that you have to memorize all those dates for. History is a noun to describe past events, or an account of something, like the history of New York City. When you describe something as having a history, you’re implying it has an intriguing past. For example, a necklace that’s been passed down through generations has a history. But when you say something's history, what you mean is not that it no longer exists. Your fear of the water is history now that you know how to swim.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

history histories

At this event last year, new CEO Doustdar announced that Novo would let go of 11.5% of its workers in what would be the largest corporate layoff in Denmark’s history.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 21, 2026

Eckert speaks slowly and with an intense gaze when asked to reflect on being at the centre of one of the biggest controversies in English football history.

From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026

Webb said it’s the responsibility of the veterans on both sides to keep that history alive by explaining the enmity to the young players.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 20, 2026

But the post raises questions about both the history of the project and its newly announced military purpose.

From Salon ● Sep. 20, 2026

But then again, it did have a sort of mid-twentieth-century look, and its history always seemed clouded, like no one’s stories about the place ever matched your own, so you stopped offering others your details.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Sutherland said they also considered using genetic genealogy, databases of people who had voluntarily given DNA to trace relatives and family histories, but that was not usually allowed in the UK.

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026

That impulse to build the future through layered histories mirrors the brand’s approach to place as well, making its next move clearer.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026

The researchers also had limited information about participants' H. pylori status and family histories of gastric cancer.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 10, 2026

When done as well as Mr. Riley’s, oral histories provide new revelations about rivalries, hidden strategies and screw ups.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026

For a second the idea glittered before Sefia like one of her Visions: the Five Islands working together in concert, all the warring kingdoms united, their turbulent histories smoothed over in a single decisive victory.

From "The Reader" by Traci Chee

Related Words

• account
• annals
• biography
• record
• relation
• story
• tale