As a Noun: 1. The period of time before the present. English = past. As a Verb or Adjective: 1. To go back in time to the past. 2. To belong to the past and no longer the present. English = former. 3. To belong to the past and be the person or thing immediately before the person or thing that now occupies the same place. English = previous, prior. As Modifier: 1. Used after time signs and/or at the beginning or end of sign phrase to place the time frame in the past. English = ago, in the past. 2. Used at the beginning or end of a sign phrase, or immediately next to a verb (action) sign, to mean that the action took place at a time earlier than the time of speaking or time of point of reference. English = before.