WordGarden.ioyesterday
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /jˈɛstədˌeɪ/
US
- /ˈjɛstərˌdeɪ/
Meanings
Adverb
on the day before today
Noun
the day before today
the recent past or an earlier time
Beyond the definition
"Yesterday" is first of all the name for the day before today. It brings us back to what just happened and often carries a feeling of memory or reflection. You might say, "Yesterday was a beautiful day," and think of sunshine and laughter. Or you might say, "Yesterday I forgot to pick up milk!"
Sometimes, "yesterday" is not only about one exact day. It can also mean "the past" or an earlier time. If someone says a thing belongs to yesterday, they mean it feels old or out of date. The phrase "yesterday's news" is used for something that was once important but no longer matters much now.
"Yesterday" primarily refers to the day before the current day. It's a simple concept, yet deeply connected to our experience of time and memory. "I spent yesterday reading a good book" describes an activity completed in the recent past, while "the storm caused damage yesterday" tells us exactly when an event occurred.
However, "yesterday" can also function as a broader term for the past. It's often used figuratively to describe things that are outdated, irrelevant, or no longer vital. For example, one might say, "Let's leave the problems of yesterday behind and focus on the future," or, "He clings to the values of yesterday."
The word carries a weight of nostalgia and reflection. We learn from yesterday, we build upon it, and sometimes, we wish we could revisit it. It's a reminder that time moves forward, and each day becomes "yesterday" in its turn.
You might hear related terms like "yesteryear," which evokes a sense of long-ago times, or poetic phrases like "the days of yesterday," expressing fondness for past experiences. It is a word woven into our stories, regrets, and hopes for what is to come. When you say "yesterday," you are not just naming a day—you are acknowledging the very passage of time.
Examples
- 1
Everyday past
I saw Mia at the station yesterday.
- 2
Specific time
We finished the report yesterday afternoon.
- 3
Day comparison
Yesterday was much colder than today.
- 4
Since phrase
I haven't heard from him since yesterday.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Status change
As of yesterday, the museum is open seven days a week.
- Phraseas of yesterday
starting from yesterday
- 6
Recent feeling
It feels like only yesterday that we moved into this apartment.
- Phraseonly yesterday
very recently, even if some time has passed
- 7
Possessive form
Yesterday's meeting was shorter than I expected.
- 8
Outdated topic
Those jokes are yesterday's news now.
- Phraseyesterday's news
old and no longer interesting
See also
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- yesterdaynounadverb
Forms
- yesterdayspluralnounadverb