Word
yesterday
Phoneticsyes·ter·day, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈjɛstɝˌdeɪ/
UK/jˈɛstədˌeɪ/
Definitions
01on the day before today
A1 · Beginner
adv. on the day that happened before today.
adv. occurring on the day immediately preceding the present day.
Español:ayer
“I went to the cinema with my friends yesterday afternoon.”
“The shipment arrived yesterday morning, but the warehouse staff were unable to process the inventory until the following shift.”
Usage
Functions as an adverb of time, usually placed at the beginning or end of a clause.
Antonyms
02the day before today
A1 · Beginner Uncountable noun
n. the day that came before today.
n. the day immediately preceding today, used as a noun phrase.
Español:ayer
“Yesterday was a very busy day for the whole family.”
“Yesterday was the first time the committee had met in person since the restructuring was announced.”
Usage
Often used as the subject of a sentence with the verb 'to be'.
Antonyms
03the recent past
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Literary
n. the past, especially when you are talking about how things used to be.
n. the past in a general or figurative sense, often contrasted with the present or future.
“In the world of technology, last year's phone feels like yesterday.”
“The politician's speech focused on the future rather than dwelling on the failures of yesterday.”
Usage
Usually used as an uncountable noun in this figurative sense.
Teaching tip
This sense is common in songs, poetry, and journalism to create a nostalgic or dramatic tone.
04immediately
C1 · Advanced Informal · Humorous
adv. you use this to say you want something done right now or as soon as possible.
adv. used to express extreme urgency, implying that a task should have been completed already.
“The boss wants this report finished by yesterday.”
“The client is demanding the revised blueprints by yesterday, so we will need to work through the night.”
Usage
Typically follows the preposition 'by'.
Teaching tip
This is a common workplace idiom. It is physically impossible to finish something 'by yesterday', so it is used to show that someone is being very demanding.
Synonyms
Etymology
From Middle English yesterday, yisterday, ȝesterdai, ȝisterdai, from Old English ġiestrandæġ, ġister dæġ, ġestor dæġ, ġeostran dæġ (“yesterday”), by surface analysis, yester- + day. Cognate with Scots yisterday, yesterday (“yesterday”), Saterland Frisian jässendeeg, järsendeges (“yesterday”, adverb), West Frisian justerdei (“yesterday”), Dutch gisterdag (“yesterday”), dialectal German gestertag (“yesterday”), Swedish gårdag (“yesterday”), Gothic 𐌲𐌹𐍃𐍄𐍂𐌰𐌳𐌰𐌲𐌹𐍃 (gistradagis, “tomorrow”, adverb). Compare further Dutch gisteren (“yesterday”), German gestern (“yesterday”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Grammar
The word in film
Born Yesterday · 1950 · Comedy
- Directed by:
- George Cukor
- Starring:
- William Holden, Judy Holliday, Broderick Crawford
George Cukor directs this Washington comedy about an unrefined chorus girl who outwits her corrupt junk-tycoon boyfriend after taking lessons from an honest journalist. The title draws on the common idiom meaning naive or inexperienced, proving she was not born yesterday despite initial appearances.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A1 · BeginnerOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/yesterday
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0