yesterday

1 of 2

adverb

yes·​ter·​day ˈye-stər-(ˌ)dā 

-dē

1

: on the day last past : on the day preceding today

2

: at a time not long past : only a short time ago

I wasn't born yesterday

yesterday

2 of 2

noun

1

: the day last past : the day next before the present

2

: recent time : time not long past

3

: past time

—usually used in plural

Synonyms

Noun

• auld lang syne
• history
• past
• yesteryear
• yore

Examples of yesterday in a Sentence

Adverb

It rained heavily yesterday afternoon.

I mailed the application early yesterday morning.

It was good to see you yesterday.

Noun

Yesterday's game was canceled because of the rain.

The radio program features yesterday's songs as well as today's.

Today's cars aren't all that different from the models of yesterday.

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

Middle English yisterday, from Old English giestran dæg, from giestran yesterday + dæg day; akin to Old High German gestaron yesterday, Latin heri, Greek chthes

First Known Use

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing yesterday

• it seems like only yesterday
• the day before yesterday
• wasn't born yesterday
• yesterday's news

Kids Definition

yesterday

1 of 2 adverb

yes·​ter·​day ˈyes-tərd-ē 

1

: on the day before today

2

: at a time not long past

yesterday

2 of 2 noun

1

: the day next before the present

2

: recent time : time not long past