Word
yet
US/ˈjɛt/
UK/jˈɛt/
Adverb of timeIrregular verb
Forms
Infinitive
yet
Past
yet
Past participle
yet
Definitions
01until now
A2 · Elementary
adv. up to this time; used mostly in negative sentences and questions to talk about something expected.
adv. up to the present time or the time in question; typically functions as a temporal operator in negative or interrogative clauses.
Español:aún
“I haven't finished my homework yet, so I can't go out.”
“The researchers have not yet published their findings, as the peer-review process has been delayed by administrative issues.”
Usage
Usually placed at the end of a negative sentence or question.
Pitfall
I didn't see the movie yet.
I haven't seen the movie yet.
In British English, 'yet' is almost always used with the present perfect tense, not the past simple.
Antonyms
02still
B1 · Intermediate
adv. continuing now or for a longer time.
adv. continuing at a given time; used to emphasize that a state or condition persists.
“There is hope yet that we can win the game.”
“Despite the economic downturn, there are yet opportunities for growth in the renewable energy sector if the government provides subsidies.”
Usage
Often placed after the verb 'to be' or at the end of a clause for emphasis.
Synonyms
Antonyms
03in the future
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adv. at some time in the future, even if it seems unlikely now.
adv. at some future time; eventually.
Español:algún día
“We may yet find a solution to this problem.”
“Though the negotiations have stalled, the diplomats believe a peaceful resolution may yet be reached before the deadline.”
Usage
Often used with modal verbs like 'may', 'might', or 'could'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
04even more
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adv. used to emphasize an increase or a larger amount.
adv. used as an intensifier before comparative adjectives or to indicate an additional instance.
“The weather is going to get yet colder next week.”
“The CEO's latest scandal brought yet more negative publicity to the struggling tech firm.”
Usage
Placed before comparative adjectives or words like 'another' or 'more'.
05but / nevertheless
B1 · Intermediate
conj. used to connect two ideas that seem opposite or surprising.
conj. used to introduce a statement that adds something surprising to what has just been said; functions as a contrastive coordinator.
“It was a small car, yet it was very comfortable for long trips.”
“The evidence was circumstantial, yet the jury found the defendant guilty based on the strength of the witness testimony.”
Synonyms
Confusables
Already marks an action as completed sooner than anticipated, while yet indicates an action is expected but has not happened by the present moment.
RememberAlready is for 'done'; yet is for 'waiting'.
Still describes a situation that continues to exist; yet describes a situation that hasn't happened but is expected to.
RememberStill is for 'now'; yet is for 'not now, but soon'.
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English yet, yit, from Old English ġīet, gȳta, from Proto-West Germanic jūta, from Proto-Germanic juta (compare West Frisian jit, jitte (“yet”), Dutch ooit (“ever”), German jetzt (“now”)), compound of (1) ju (“already”, adverb), from Proto-Indo-European h₂yew-, accusative of h₂óyu (“long time”) and (2) the Proto-Germanic ta (“to, towards”), from Proto-Indo-European *do. More at aye and -th.
Inherited from Middle English yeten, from Old English ġēotan (“to flow, pour”), from Proto-West Germanic geutan, from Proto-Germanic geutaną (“to flow, pour”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰewd- (“to pour”). Cognate with Scots yat (“to pour, yet”), West Frisian jitte (“to scatter, shed, pour”), Dutch gieten (“to pour, cast, mould”), German gießen (“to pour, cast, mould”), Swedish gjuta (“to pour, cast”). Doublet of yote.
Inherited from Middle English yeten, ȝeten, from Old English ġietan, from Proto-Germanic getaną, from Proto-Indo-European gʰed-. More at get.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Grammar
- 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.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL 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: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A2 · ElementaryOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/yet
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0