Dictionary Home » Dictionary Definitions » history

history

Listen See in Thesaurus See in a sentence

The definition of history is a story or tale of what has happened or may have happened in the past.

(noun)

An example of history is what is taught in U.S. History class.
An example of history is someone telling a story about their past experiences.
An example of history is an article about where baseball originated.

See history in Webster's New World College Dictionary

an account of what has or might have happened, esp. in the form of a narrative, play, story, or tale
1. what has happened in the life or development of a people, country, institution, etc.
2. a systematic account of this, usually in chronological order with an analysis and explanation
all recorded events of the past
the branch of knowledge that deals systematically with the past; a recording, analyzing, correlating, and explaining of past events
a known or recorded past: the strange history of his coat
1. something that belongs to the past: the election is history now
2. Informal someone or something regarded as no longer important, relevant, useful, etc.
something important enough to be recorded
Rare a scientific account of a system of natural phenomena: natural history
a record of a person's medical condition, treatments received, etc.: her medical history

Origin: ME < L historia < Gr, a learning by inquiry, narrative < histōr, knowing, learned < base of eidenai, to know < IE base *weid-, to see, know > wise

See history in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. his·to·ries

a. A usually chronological record of events, as of the life or development of a people or institution, often including an explanation of or commentary on those events: a history of the Vikings.
b. A formal written account of related natural phenomena: a history of volcanoes.
c. A record of a patient's medical background.
d. An established record or pattern of behavior: an inmate with a history of substance abuse.
The branch of knowledge that records and analyzes past events: “History has a long-range perspective” (Elizabeth Gurley Flynn).
a. The past events relating to a particular thing: The history of their rivalry is full of intrigue.
b. The aggregate of past events or human affairs: basic tools used throughout history.
c. An interesting past: a house with history.
d. Something that belongs to the past: Their troubles are history now.
e. Slang One that is no longer worth consideration: Why should we worry about him? He's history!
A drama based on historical events: the histories of Shakespeare.