How to pronounce past
Say it like PAST. Past is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- PAST
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Past pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PASTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of past
- British speakers use the long "ah" vowel of father where Americans use the "a" of cat.
British respelling: PAHST.
What does past mean?
- The period of time that has already happened, in contrast to the present and the future.“a book about a time machine that can transport people back into the past”
- The past tense.
- Having already happened; in the past; finished.“past glories”
- Following expressions of time to indicate how long ago something happened; ago.
- Of a period of time: having just gone by; previous.“during the past year”
- In a direction that passes.“I watched him walk past.”
Where does past come from?
From Middle English passed, past participle of passen (“to pass, to go by”), whence Modern English pass.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with past
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of past.
Words that sound like past
Questions about saying past
How do you pronounce past?
Say PAST. The American pronunciation is /pæst/. In British English it is /pɑːst/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in past?
Past is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: PAST.
Is past pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. British speakers use the long "ah" vowel of father where Americans use the "a" of cat. The British form is /pɑːst/ (PAHST).
What words sound the same as past?
Past sounds the same as passed in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.