far past

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "far past" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something which happened very long ago in the past, usually in a way that implies that it is no longer relevant. Example: Much of the knowledge from far past eras has been forgotten.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

But our far past was swept away.

The Guardian - Books

And, even far past sunset, it stayed hot.

The New York Times

But Mr. O'Neal's interests range far past jazz photography.

The New York Times

"We are far past recusal," Pelosi said on Twitter.

The New Yorker

It is far past time to disentangle the religious and the civic aspects of marriage.

The New York Times

Even the far past is stuck with labels, like an old-fashioned traveling trunk.

The New York Times

The South Korean stood up Nedum Onuoha before unleashing a left-foot shot that went in off the far past.

Independent

It is also far past time to stop hiding behind spurious, often ludicrous, claims of national security.

The New York Times

"The evidence points to a more stable field in the very far past and fewer reversals," says Veikkolainen.

BBC

Picture cafes buzzing far past midnight with wine-fuelled debates on the nature of love and mortality.

BBC

"It's far past that now," she added.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "far past" to emphasize that something is not just in the past, but significantly removed from the present, either in time or relevance.

Common error

Avoid using "far past" when referring to recent events or periods. It's best reserved for situations where you want to stress the considerable distance between then and now.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "far past" functions primarily as an adverbial modifier, indicating a point or period considerably before the present time. Ludwig AI confirms this, and examples show it describing eras, events, or states that are significantly removed from the current context.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "far past" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed adverbial phrase used to denote temporal or metaphorical distance from the present. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread usage. Its prevalence in the "News & Media" underscores its utility in describing events and eras considerably removed from current affairs. While adaptable to other contexts, such as scientific and formal writing, understanding its core purpose—to emphasize remoteness—ensures its accurate and effective application. When writing "far past", remember that several alternative options, such as "distant past", "long ago", or "remote past", could serve you well.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

distant past

Emphasizes the remoteness in time, similar to "far past".

remote past

Highlights the inaccessibility or obscurity of the past.

deep past

Emphasizes the depth and obscurity of the past.

in the distant reaches of time

A more poetic and evocative way to describe the "far past".

long ago

A more general term for something that happened a considerable time ago.

bygone era

Refers to a period in the past that is significantly different from the present.

ancient times

Specifically refers to the very early periods of human history.

way back when

An informal way to refer to a time long ago.

well beyond

Implies exceeding a certain limit or boundary in a non-temporal sense.

considerably beyond

Highlights the significant extent or degree to which something surpasses a limit.

FAQs

How to use "far past" in a sentence?

You can use "far past" to indicate something that happened a very long time ago or to emphasize that something is no longer relevant. For example, "The technology of today is "far past" the limitations of the early 20th century."

What can I say instead of "far past"?

You can use alternatives like "distant past", "long ago", or "remote past" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "far past" or "far in the past"?

"Far past" is a concise and grammatically correct option. "Far in the past" is also correct but more wordy. The choice depends on the desired tone and emphasis.

What's the difference between "far past" and "further past"?

"Far past" emphasizes a great distance in time from the present. "Further past" suggests a relative comparison to another point in the past. For example, "The era of dinosaurs is in the "far past". However, the Jurassic period is a "further past" in relation to the Cretaceous period."