History Past People Extra Examples ˈhɪstri Recent Events

• the battle was a turning point in human history.
• one of the worst disasters in recent history
• many people throughout history have dreamt of a world without war.
• a people with no sense of history

history

1. all the events that happened in the past
• The battle was a turning point in human history.
• one of the worst disasters in recent history
• Many people throughout history have dreamt of a world without war.
• a people with no sense of history
• The area was inhabited long before the dawn of recorded history (= before people wrote about events).
• These events changed the course of history.
• This was her attempt to rewrite history with herself in the role of heroine.

Extra Examples

• At that time in history, women did just what they were expected to do.
• History shows that New Zealand are almost unbeatable by British teams on their own turf.
• History shows that high approval ratings are no guarantee of re-election.
• She created a piece of history by winning her fourth title.
• The debate about the origins of the universe has been going on throughout recorded history.
• The team grabbed a slice of history here today.
• The war has now faded into history.
• There have been conflicts such as this throughout history.
• This is a fascinating period of history.
• the most extraordinary meeting in history
• things that happened in recent history
• It was one of the worst disasters in recent history.
2. the past events connected with the development of a particular place, subject, etc.
• the history of science/music/philosophy
• She is an expert in the history of the United States.
• The local history of the area is fascinating.
• The museum traces the history of the slave trade.

Extra Examples

• The city has a rich and colourful history.
• the official history of the Labour Party
• the early history of the trade union movement
• a building that is steeped in history
• The town's history goes back to Roman times.
• The history of this organization goes back many years.
• The regiment traces its history back to 1803.
• The country has suffered several invasions during its history.
• the best player in the sport's history
• the history of the world
• The school traces its history back to 1865.
• the history of Ireland/democracy/popular music
• One of the puzzles of the history of science is why science never really took off in China.
3. the study of past events, especially as a subject at school or university
• SEE ALSO natural history
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/natural-history
• a history professor/teacher
• a history lesson/textbook
• a degree in History
• cultural/social/economic/political history
• modern/ancient history
• She's studying art history.
• She studies history of art.
4. a written or spoken account of real past events
• SEE ALSO oral history
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/oral-history
• She's writing a new history of Europe.
• She went on to catalogue a long history of disasters.
• the oral histories of ordinary people

Extra Examples

• Ours is the oldest written history in the world.
• There is no true written history of the Pashtun in their own land.
5. the set of facts that are known about somebody/something's past
• I know nothing about his personal history.
• The group has quite a history.
• The doctor will need some details of your medical history.
6. a record of something happening frequently in the past life of a person, family or place
• SEE ALSO case history
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/case-history
• He has a history of violent crime.
• She has a long history of mental illness.
• There is a history of heart disease in my family.

Extra Examples

• They have a history of trying to interfere.
• The area has a history of subsidence problems.
7. a relationship between two people, groups, companies, etc. that started in the past and continued for a period of time, especially one involving bad or complicated feelings
• Sure there's history between Anna Mae and me, like you said.
8. a historical play
• Shakespeare's comedies, histories and tragedies
9. to be dead or no longer important
• Another mistake like that and you're history.
• We won't talk about that—that's history.
• That's past history now.
• They had an affair once, but that's past history now.
10. the record of great achievements in history
• She has earned her place in the history books.
11. used to say that things often happen later in the same way as before
• Years later family history repeated itself with Eve’s daughters.
12. to be or do something so important that it will be recorded in history
• a discovery that made medical history

Extra Examples

• He will go down in history as a wise adviser and a kind man.
• Neil Armstrong made history by being the first man to walk on the moon.
13. used when you are telling a story to say that you do not need to tell the end of it, because everyone knows it already

Word Origin

• late Middle English (also as a verb): via Latin from Greek historia ‘finding out, narrative, history’, from histōr ‘learned, wise man’, from an Indo-European root shared by wit ‘have knowledge’.