history
[noun]
Synonyms:
- chronicle, account, annals, narrative, recital, record, story
- the past, antiquity, olden days, yesterday, yesteryear

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Related Words: account, recital, relation, report, diary, journal, memoir, epic, saga, tale

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

his‧to‧ry S2 W1 /ˈhɪstəri/ noun (plural histories)
[Word Family: noun: historian, history, prehistory; adjective: historic, prehistoric, historical; adverb: historically]
[Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: historia, from Greek, from histor 'knowing, learned']

1. PAST EVENTS [uncountable] all the things that happened in the past, especially the political, social, or economic development of a nation:
Throughout history the achievements of women have been largely ignored.
history of
the post-war history of Europe
No man in recent history has done more to rebuild the Democratic Party.
the early history of Scotland
Other meteor storms have occurred in recorded history.
a museum devoted to local history
one of the darkest episodes in American history
an interesting period in Egyptian history
a decision that changed the course of history
a college steeped in history
History shows that the usual response to violent protest is repression.

2. DEVELOPMENT OF SOMETHING [singular, uncountable] the events that took place from the beginning and during the development of a particular place, activity, institution etc
history of
the worst disaster in the history of space travel
long/brief/75-year etc history
The 1970s were the most successful in the theater’s long history.

3. SUBJECT [uncountable] the study of past events as a subject in school or university
European/art/economic etc history
a degree in European history
ancient/modern history
a history lesson

4. ACCOUNT [countable] an account of past events
history of
a history of World War II
a potted history (=very short) of Gielgud’s life (BrE)

5. PAST LIFE [uncountable and countable] a record of something that has affected someone or been done by them in the past
medical/employment/career etc history
Your doctor will ask for your medical history.
history of
Is there any history of heart disease in your family?
The defendant had a history of violent assaults on women.

6. make history to do something important that will be recorded and remembered:
Lindbergh made history when he flew across the Atlantic.

7. something will go down in history used to say that something is important enough to be remembered and recorded:
This day will go down in history as the start of a new era in South Africa.

8. history repeats itself used to say that things often happen in the same way as they did before

9. the history books the record of past events:
Mozart’s genius earned him a place in the history books.

10. ... and the rest is history informal used to say that everyone knows the rest of a story you have been telling

11. that’s (past/ancient) history spoken informal used to say that something is not important any more
⇒ natural history, case history

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

history
noun
I. the past, especially as a subject of study
ADJ. contemporary, early, recent the early history of the trade union movement things that happened in recent history
ancient, medieval, modern | local | family | British, world, etc. | official the official history of the Labour Party
recorded The debate about the origins of the universe has been going on throughout recorded history.
oral Oral history enables us to take account of those many aspects of history that are not recorded in documents.
art, church, cultural, economic, human, literary, military, political, social, etc.
QUANT. piece She created a piece of history by winning her fourth title.
VERB + HISTORY be steeped in a building that is steeped in history
go down in, make, pass into He will go down in history as a wise adviser and a kind man. He made history by being the first man to walk on the moon.
trace The regiment traces its history back to 1803.
distort, rewrite her attempt to rewrite history with herself in the role of heroine
HISTORY + VERB go back (to) … The town's history goes back to Roman times.
reveal sth, show sth History shows that New Zealand are almost unbeatable by British teams on their own turf.
repeat itself Years later, family history repeated itself with Eve's daughters.
HISTORY + NOUN book (figurative) She has earned her place in the history books.
PREP. during sth's ~ The country has suffered several invasions during its history.
in (sth's) ~ the most extraordinary royal meeting in history the best player in the sport's history
throughout ~ There have been conflicts such as this throughout history.
PHRASES change the course of history events that could change the course of history
a period of history This is a fascinating period of history.
the rest is history (= the rest of the story does not need to be told because it is well-known), a sense of history a people with no sense of history
a slice of history The team grabbed a slice of history here today (= achieved sth that will be remembered).
 ⇒ Note at SUBJECT (for more verbs and nouns)

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

history
II. facts about sb/sth's life/existence in the past
ADJ. chequered, colourful, fascinating, interesting, rich The city has a rich and colourful history.
long She has a long history of mental illness.
previous, subsequent | case She familiarized herself with the case history of her new patient.
employment, family, life, medical, personal, sexual The doctor will need some details of your medical history. I know nothing about his personal history.
VERB + HISTORY have
PREP. ~ of a history of heart disease in the family

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

history
III. sth in the past that is no longer important
ADJ. past They had an affair once, but that's past history now.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

history

recent/modern/contemporary history
The country’s recent history is powerfully told in this film.
early/ancient history
He had studied ancient Roman history.
recorded history (=history since people have written things down)
These were the worst floods in recorded history.
local history (=the history of events in a particular local area)
The building is now a museum of local history.
American/Chinese/British etc history
It was one of the worst peacetime disasters in American history.
human history (=the history of people rather than the world itself)
World War I was the most destructive war in human history up to that time.
political/social etc history
the political history of Germany
oral history (=history that is told by speaking and that often consists of personal memories)
Smith recorded the conversation for oral history.
rich history (=an interesting and important history)
Greece has a very rich history.
long history
The 1970s were the most successful in the theatre's long history.
history shows/tells (that)
History shows that the usual response to violent protests is repression.
go down in history (=be remembered for many years)
She will go down in history as one of the greatest tennis players of all time.
make history (=do something important that will be recorded and remembered)
Ordinary Berliners made history when they tore down the wall.
rewrite history (=change what we believe are the facts about the past)
They're trying to rewrite history to exaggerate their role in the war.
trace the history of something (=find out what the history of something is)
James traces the history of modern cricket back to its beginnings in the late 1700s.
shape history (=influence events that are recorded)
He is one of the politicians who shaped 20th century history.
a period of/in history
a glorious period in English history
the first time in history (=the first time something has ever happened)
For the first time in history, an American president resigned his office.
change the course of history (=do something that has many important effects)
Roosevelt and Churchill helped to change the course of history.
be steeped in history (=be closely connected with important events in history)
Cambridge is steeped in history and tradition.
consign something to the dustbin of history (=to forget about something that existed in the past – used especially when saying that you will feel glad when people have got rid of something)
One day nuclear weapons will be consigned to the dustbin of history.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

history
ˈhɪstərɪ
See: go down in history or go down in the records

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲