yet
- 01 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.
Simple“I haven't finished my homework yet, so I can't go out.”
In context“The researchers have not yet published their findings, as the peer-review process has been delayed by administrative issues.”
UsageUsually placed at the end of a negative sentence or question.
PitfallI 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.
- 02 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.
Simple“There is hope yet that we can win the game.”
In context“Despite the economic downturn, there are yet opportunities for growth in the renewable energy sector if the government provides subsidies.”
UsageOften placed after the verb 'to be' or at the end of a clause for emphasis.
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
adv.at some time in the future, even if it seems unlikely now.
adv.at some future time; eventually.
Simple“We may yet find a solution to this problem.”
In context“Though the negotiations have stalled, the diplomats believe a peaceful resolution may yet be reached before the deadline.”
UsageOften used with modal verbs like 'may', 'might', or 'could'.
SynonymsAntonyms - 04 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.
Simple“The weather is going to get yet colder next week.”
In context“The CEO's latest scandal brought yet more negative publicity to the struggling tech firm.”
UsagePlaced before comparative adjectives or words like 'another' or 'more'.
- 05 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.
Simple“It was a small car, yet it was very comfortable for long trips.”
In context“The evidence was circumstantial, yet the jury found the defendant guilty based on the strength of the witness testimony.”
Synonyms
yet vs already — Already marks an action as completed sooner than anticipated, while yet indicates an action is expected but has not happened by the present moment.
yet vs still — Still describes a situation that continues to exist; yet describes a situation that hasn't happened but is expected to.
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.