history
/ˈhɪstri/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈhɪstri/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈhi-st(ə-)rē/ (ame, mw)
history — noun
- historysingular
- historiesplural
1. the connected series of past happenings, particularly the major ones that shape
the connected series of past happenings, particularly the major ones that shape a country, a society, or a field of knowledge; also the academic subject in which people study, interpret, and write about those events.
Tomás read about the history of Mexico before his trip to Oaxaca.
history of [place]
Professor Amani has written three books on African history.
[adjective] history as academic subject
The history of the internet began with a small network of computers.
Maja chose to study art history because she loves Renaissance painting.
- the future
time that has not yet happened
文法句型
history of [place/subject]
[adjective] history
in history
用法筆記
Often modified by an adjective or an of-phrase to specify the domain (e.g., European history, the history of science). When referring to the school subject, it is uncountable.
常見錯誤
2. a person, event, or situation from long ago that no longer carries any effect or
a person, event, or situation from long ago that no longer carries any effect or importance in the present.
That old argument with my neighbour is history now.
be history = be finished / irrelevant
To the younger gymnasts, her Olympic medals are already history.
After the company restructured, the old filing system became history.
Christopher's failed restaurant is history — he runs a food truck now.
- water under the bridge
idiomatic expression for past problems that no longer matter; more specific to disagreements
- a thing of the past
slightly more formal than history; emphasises change over time
文法句型
be history
become history
用法筆記
This sense nearly always appears in the predicate of a sentence rather than before a noun. Commonly used in informal conversation to dismiss something as no longer worth discussing.
常見錯誤
3. the set of documented facts about what an individual, a group, or an object has
the set of documented facts about what an individual, a group, or an object has done or experienced over time — for example, medical treatments, jobs held, or websites visited.
The doctor asked about Ishaan's family history of heart disease.
medical / family history
Before hiring, the company reviews each applicant's employment history.
You can clear your browser history in the privacy settings.
The mechanic checked the car's service history before buying it.
- background
broader term covering personal details including education and family; may not be as systematically documented
- record
emphasises the documentation itself rather than the content; more formal
- track record
focuses on past achievements or failures; slightly informal
文法句型
[adjective] history
[possessive] history
history of [noun]
用法筆記
Frequently appears in compound nouns such as medical history, credit history, browser history, employment history, and case history. These compounds often follow possessive or adjective patterns.