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
The company acquired 7-Eleven in 2005, according to a timeline of 7-Eleven's history.
—
Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 15 Oct. 2024
The commemoration of Native American history and culture is now federally recognized alongside Columbus Day.
—John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 14 Oct. 2024
There’s a nice bit of history that Matt [Olmstead] carved out for Wes and Vo (Vinessa Vidotto).
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 14 Oct. 2024
Margaret: Margaret was the name of Shakespeare’s sister and a popular choice of that period of history.
—Kara Nesvig, Parents, 14 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for history 
Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 15 Oct. 2024
The commemoration of Native American history and culture is now federally recognized alongside Columbus Day.
—John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 14 Oct. 2024
There’s a nice bit of history that Matt [Olmstead] carved out for Wes and Vo (Vinessa Vidotto).
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 14 Oct. 2024
Margaret: Margaret was the name of Shakespeare’s sister and a popular choice of that period of history.
—Kara Nesvig, Parents, 14 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for history
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'history.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near history
Cite this Entry
“History.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/history. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
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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