past thursday

USAGE SUMMARY

"past Thursday" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that happened on or before the Thursday in the past week, for example: "I called my Grandma last weekend, but she said she couldn't make it until past Thursday."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

This past Thursday was Thanksgiving.

The Guardian - Opinion

This past Thursday saw our monthly issue launch party at the Old Blue Last, which we celebrated with Loom, Heavy Waves and Wide Eyed.

Vice

Next week, Obama will make his first trip to Israel as President, and this past Thursday, Obama sat with Levy once again.

The New Yorker

They were cut down this past Thursday, not earlier.

The New York Times

This past Thursday, Laws attended the arraignment of Evens, who pleaded not guilty.

The New Yorker

I'm focussed on taking the next step, to survive past Thursday.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

My first attempt was attending the opening of the new Kahn & Selesnick exhibition, "Mars: Adrift on the Hourglass Sea," at Yancey Richardson Gallery this past Thursday.

The New Yorker

Wore it last Thursday.

The New York Times

Last Updated, Thursday, 2 30 p.m.

The New York Times

Last Thursday, the N.Y.

The New Yorker

Last Thursday (Mar.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "past Thursday" when you need to specifically refer to the Thursday of the week that has just ended. It provides a clear temporal reference in your writing.

Common error

Be mindful that while "past Thursday" and "last Thursday" are often used interchangeably, "past Thursday" can sometimes refer to a Thursday further in the past depending on context. For clarity, especially in formal writing, consider specifying the date if ambiguity is possible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "past Thursday" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, specifying when an event took place. It modifies a verb or clause to indicate the timing of the action. Ludwig examples show it is commonly used in news and media to provide context to events.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "past Thursday" is a grammatically correct and very common way to refer to the Thursday of the previous week. Ludwig AI confirms its validity based on numerous examples primarily from news and media sources. While generally interchangeable with "last Thursday", "past Thursday" can sometimes refer to a Thursday further in the past so it's crucial to consider the context to avoid ambiguity. For greater precision, especially in formal writing, consider specifying the exact date. Use "past Thursday" to provide a temporal reference in your writing, but be aware of potential confusion and opt for clarity whenever necessary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

last Thursday

Uses 'last' instead of 'past' to specify the most recent Thursday.

previous Thursday

Employs 'previous' as a synonym for 'past', indicating the Thursday before the current week.

the Thursday before

Describes the Thursday preceding the current one in a more descriptive manner.

Thursday of last week

Specifies the day and clarifies it occurred in the previous week.

Thursday gone by

Uses a more poetic phrasing to indicate a Thursday that has already passed.

a week ago Thursday

Specifies the day as occurring exactly one week prior.

Thursday last

Inverts the order but retains the same meaning as 'last Thursday'.

most recent Thursday

Highlights that it refers to the Thursday nearest to the present.

the Thursday just passed

Emphasizes that the Thursday has very recently occurred.

that Thursday

Refers to a Thursday already established in the context.

FAQs

How is "past Thursday" used in a sentence?

"Past Thursday" is used to indicate that an event occurred on the Thursday of the previous week, such as, "The meeting was held "past Thursday"."

What's the difference between "past Thursday" and "last Thursday"?

While often interchangeable, "past Thursday" can sometimes refer to a Thursday further in the past. "Last Thursday" typically means the most recent Thursday. Context is key to determine the specific meaning.

What can I say instead of "past Thursday"?

You can use alternatives like "last Thursday", "previous Thursday", or "the Thursday before" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "past Thursday"?

Yes, "past Thursday" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English to refer to the Thursday of the previous week. Ludwig AI confirms its validity based on numerous examples.