# past

> English word · Noun · IPA /pɑːst/ · frequency rank #437

## Definitions
1. The period of time that has already happened, in contrast to the present and the future.
2. The past tense.

## Etymology
From Middle English passed, past participle of passen (“to pass, to go by”), whence Modern English pass.

## Easily confused with
- **pt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/past-vs-pt)
- **PS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/past-vs-ps)
- **put** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/past-vs-put)
- **pay** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/past-vs-pay)
- **pet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/past-vs-pet)
- **pot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/past-vs-pot)
- **pit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/past-vs-pit)
- **pat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/past-vs-pat)
- **pcs** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/past-vs-pcs)
- **pos** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/past-vs-pos)
- **PBS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/past-vs-pbs)
- **paw** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/past-vs-paw)
- **PSA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/past-vs-psa)
- **PTS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/past-vs-pts)
- **psi** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/past-vs-psi)
- **PSG** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/past-vs-psg)
- **pax** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/past-vs-pax)
- **PST** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/past-vs-pst)
- **PSP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/past-vs-psp)
- **PCT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/past-vs-pct)

## Common misspellings (5)
`apst`, `passt`, `pastt`, `ppast`, `psat`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/past