history
noun
his·to·ry
ˈhi-st(ə-)rē 
plural histories
2
a
: a chronological record of significant events (such as those affecting a nation or institution) often including an explanation of their causes
a history of Japan
b
: a treatise presenting systematically related natural phenomena (as of geography, animals, or plants)
an illustrated history of North American birds
c
: an account of a patient's medical background
reviewing her medical history
d
: an established record
a prisoner with a history of violence
3
: a branch of knowledge that records and explains past events
medieval history
4
a
: events that form the subject matter of a history
the history of space exploration
b
: events of the past
History has shown that such efforts rarely succeed.
c
: one that is finished or done for
the winning streak was history
you're history
d
: previous treatment, handling, or experience (as of a metal)
a history of repeated exposure to freezing temperatures
Examples of history in a Sentence
I studied history in college.
a professor of medieval history
They were one of the greatest teams in history.
It was one of the most destructive storms in modern history.
It was a period in American history when most people lived and worked on farms.
The history of space exploration is a fascinating topic.
He wrote a well-known history of the British empire.
The book begins with a brief history of the Internet.
Recent Examples on the Web
Trump’s ability to flip a switch and ease the all-consuming pressure on the global economy, at least somewhat, is probably the most blunt and effective tool in modern history to reverse any sentiment doom spiral.
—
David Goldman, CNN Money, 5 June 2025
Barring something substantial keeping him from reaching that mark in 2025, Machado will become the 79th player in history to have accomplished the 350/2,000 double and just the 12th to do so by his age-32 season.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 June 2025
The Panthers were down 1-0 early when Draisaitl scored on a rebound just 66 seconds into regulation — the seventh-fastest goal to begin a Stanley Cup Final in NHL history.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 5 June 2025
The play is nominated for five Tony Awards at this Sunday’s ceremony, including Clooney for Best Actor, and has broken weekly box office records as the highest-grossing non-musical play in history.
—Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for history
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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David Goldman, CNN Money, 5 June 2025
Barring something substantial keeping him from reaching that mark in 2025, Machado will become the 79th player in history to have accomplished the 350/2,000 double and just the 12th to do so by his age-32 season.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 June 2025
The Panthers were down 1-0 early when Draisaitl scored on a rebound just 66 seconds into regulation — the seventh-fastest goal to begin a Stanley Cup Final in NHL history.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 5 June 2025
The play is nominated for five Tony Awards at this Sunday’s ceremony, including Clooney for Best Actor, and has broken weekly box office records as the highest-grossing non-musical play in history.
—Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for history
Cite this Entry
“History.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/history. Accessed 8 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
history
noun
his·to·ry
ˈhis-t(ə-)rē
plural histories
1
: a story of real or imaginary events
2
a
: a written record of important events and their causes
b
: a branch of knowledge that records and explains past events
c
: events that form the topics of a history
Medical Definition
history
noun
his·to·ry
ˈhis-t(ə-)rē
plural histories
: an account of a patient's family and personal background and past and present health
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