Word
yesteryear
Phoneticsyes·ter·year, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈjɛstɝˌjɪɹ/
UK/jˈɛstəjˌiə/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. time long ago in the past, often remembered as better or simpler. You use it when you talk about the old days with warm feelings.
n. the distant or recent past, especially as remembered with nostalgia or contrasted with the present.
Examples
“People miss the music of yesteryear.”
“The museum displays cars of yesteryear alongside modern electric models.”
“She collects letters of yesteryear, finding in their faded ink a slower world where people wrote with care.”
Examples
simple
“People miss the music of yesteryear.”
contextual
“The museum displays cars of yesteryear alongside modern electric models.”
complex
“She collects letters of yesteryear, finding in their faded ink a slower world where people wrote with care.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “yesteryear” in context.
Verb
01. evoke yesteryear
“The old photographs evoke yesteryear with remarkable tenderness.”
verb + noun
02. idealize yesteryear
“Politicians often idealize yesteryear to criticize the present.”
verb + noun
03. recall yesteryear
“His memoirs recall yesteryear without sentimental exaggeration.”
verb + noun
04. romanticize yesteryear
“We should not romanticize yesteryear and ignore its hardships.”
verb + noun
Adjective
05. distant yesteryear
“He spoke fondly of the customs of distant yesteryear.”
adj + noun
06. golden yesteryear
“Critics argue there never was a golden yesteryear of perfect harmony.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. charm of yesteryear
“The restored hotel retains the charm of yesteryear.”
noun + prep + noun
08. films of yesteryear
“The channel rebroadcasts classic films of yesteryear.”
noun + prep + noun
09. heroes of yesteryear
“Schoolbooks still celebrate the heroes of yesteryear.”
noun + prep + noun
10. evoke the charm of yesteryear
“The vintage market evokes the charm of yesteryear beautifully.”
11. hark back to yesteryear
“His novels deliberately hark back to yesteryear.”
12. long for a simpler yesteryear
“Many voters long for a simpler yesteryear that never existed.”
Usage
Commonly appears in the phrase 'of yesteryear' after a noun.
Etymology
From yester- + year.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 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.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL 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: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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