PREVIOUS 以前的, [only before noun] done, used, or experienced before now

以前的，过去的，曾经的:

Judging by her past performance, Jane should do very well.

从以往的表现来看，简应该会干得很好。

From past experience she knew that it was no use arguing with him.

根据过去的经验，她知道和他争论是没有用的。

Study some past exam papers to get an idea of the questions.

仔细看看以前的一些考卷，了解一下考题。

RECENT 最近的, [only before noun] used to refer to a period up until now

刚过去的:

the events of the past year

过去一年中发生的事件

During the past two weeks twelve people have died of the disease.

过去两周内有十二人死于这种疾病。

She has been feeling tired for the past few days.

这些天来她一直觉得疲惫。

FINISHED 完成的, finished or having come to an end

完成的，结束的:

Winter is past and spring has come at last.

冬天过去，春天终于来临。

writers from past centuries

前几个世纪的作家

a tradition rooted in times long past

起源于很久以前的传统

FORMER 以往的, [only before noun] having held a particular position in the past or achieved a particular honour in the past

前任的; 以往的:

a past president of the golf club

这个高尔夫球俱乐部的前任会长

a celebration for past and present employees of the newspaper

为该报社的前雇员和现雇员举办的庆祝会

Bruce Jenner, a past Olympic champion

布鲁斯·詹纳，前奥运会冠军

GRAMMAR 语法, [only before noun] relating to the PAST TENSE

〔动词〕过去式的

later than a particular time

晚于; 在…之后:

It's ten past nine.

现在是九点十分。

I should be finished by half past (=30 minutes after the hour) .

我应该在半点的时候才能完成。

It was past midnight when the party ended.

派对结束的时候已经过了午夜。

Come on Annie, it's long past your bedtime.

快点，安妮，早就过了你的上床时间了。

further than a particular place

在…的更远处:

The hospital's just up this road, about a mile past the school.

医院就在这条路上，在学校约一英里外的地方。

There are parking spaces over there, just past (=a little further than) the garage.

那边有停车位，就在那个车库过去一点儿的地方。

up to and beyond a person or place, without stopping

经过，越过:

She waved as she drove past.

她开车经过的时候挥了挥手。

Will you be going past my house on your way home?

你回家的路上会经过我家吗？

Monica hurried straight past me and down the steps.

莫妮卡从我身边匆匆经过，走下了台阶。

if a period of time goes past, it passes

〔一段时间〕过去:

Weeks went past without any news.

几周过去了，一点消息也没有。

The hours seemed to fly past.

几个小时一晃而过。

beyond or no longer at a particular point or stage

过了，不再处于〔某一点或某一阶段〕:

The roses were already past their best.

这些玫瑰花已过了盛开的时节。

Reid never really got past the stage of copying other artists.

里德从未真正脱离模仿其他艺术家的阶段。

a pot of yoghurt well past its sell-by date

一罐早已超过销售期限的酸奶

an Italian singer who was then past her prime (=no longer strong and active)

那时已过气的意大利女歌手

I'm past caring about my appearance (=I do not care about it any more) .

我已不再关心自己的外表了。

I wouldn't put it past sb (to do sth), [spoken] used to say that you would not be surprised if someone did something bad or unusual because it is typical of them to do that type of thing

我认为某人很有可能（做某事）〔指坏事或不寻常的事〕:

I wouldn't put it past Colin to cheat.

我认为很有可能科林骗了人。

past it, [BrE spoken] too old to be able to do what you used to do, or too old to be useful

〔人〕比不上年轻时; 〔物〕太旧而无用:

People seem to think that just because I'm retired, I'm past it.

人们似乎认为我退休了就不中用了。

be past due, [AmE] something that is past due has not been paid or done by the time it should have been

〔某物〕到期未付款（未做）

the past

all in the past, [spoken] used to say that an unpleasant experience has ended and can be forgotten

一切都已过去了:

You mustn't think about it. It's all in the past now.

你千万不要再想那件事，现在一切都过去了。

[sing.] the past life or existence of someone or something

〔某人或某事〕过去的经历:

At some time in its past the church was rebuilt.

历史上这座教堂进行过重建。

The woman who ran the bar had a very shady past (=events in her past which might be considered bad) .

开这酒吧的女人有见不得人的过去。