non-past

adjective

Of a tense, not pertaining to the past; in particular, applicable to both the present and the future.

“In the phrases ‘I am running tomorrow’ and ‘I am running now,’ the main verb is in the non-past tense.”

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Meanings

adjectivenon-past (not comparable)

alternative nonpast

  1. not comparablegrammarOf a tense, not pertaining to the past; in particular, applicable to both the present and the future.

    In the phrases ‘I am running tomorrow’ and ‘I am running now,’ the main verb is in the non-past tense.

Origin

From non- + past.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

non-past. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/non-past

MLA

“non-past.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/non-past. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “non-past,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/non-past.

Source: non-past on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.