past tense

American  

[past tens] / ˈpæst ˈtɛns /

Also past

noun

Grammar.

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.

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Etymology

Origin of past tense

First recorded in 1650–60

Example Sentences

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

How many words does Ellie have now, not counting like the past tense of a verb or something?

From Salon • Nov. 2, 2025

"It works as a visual token to remind us that, that word with -ed on the end, no matter how you're going to say it, puts that word into the past tense," Daryl said.

From BBC • Jan. 28, 2025

Several verbs ending in t or d have all but dropped the emending in the past tense.

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