yesteryear

noun

yes·​ter·​year ˈye-stər-ˌyir 

1

: last year

2

: time gone by

especially : the recent past

yesteryear adverb

Did you know?

Word History of Yesteryear

Mais où sont les neiges d’antan is the refrain of a famous poem by François Villon, translated as “But where are the snows of yesteryear?” The line is understood to express a melancholy nostalgia.

The translation was by the English poet Dante Gabriel Rossetti. Both the French antan and yesteryear originally simply meant “last year,” but today their meaning has broadened to “time gone by.”

Synonyms

• auld lang syne
• history
• past
• yesterday
• yore

Examples of yesteryear in a Sentence

the simple games of yesteryear that kept children entertained for hours

Recent Examples on the Web

Aioli Bodega Española Midtown is Sacramento’s hub for cutting-edge culinary innovation, yet still hosts a few restaurants that straddle modernity while taking inspiration from yesteryear. —Benjy Egel, Sacramento Bee, 29 Feb. 2024

Taylor Swift and Beyoncé might be making history with their economy-boosting tours, but one pop act from yesteryear is raking in millions a week without ever stepping foot onstage. —Prarthana Prakash, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2023

Word History

Etymology

yesterday + year

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing yesteryear

• of yesteryear

Kids Definition

yesteryear

noun

yes·​ter·​year ˈyes-tər-ˌyi(ə)r 

1

: last year

2

: the recent past