Yesterday: meaning, definitions and examples

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yesterday

 

[ ˈjɛstərˌdeɪ ]

Adverb / Noun
Oxford 3000
Context #1 | Adverb

time

On the day before today

Synonyms

the day before today, the day past, the previous day

Examples of usage

  • I saw him yesterday at the grocery store.
  • She was feeling sick yesterday and couldn't come to work.
Context #2 | Noun

time

The day before today

Synonyms

the day before today, the day past, the previous day

Examples of usage

  • Yesterday was a busy day for me.
  • I can't believe it's already yesterday.

Translations

Translations of the word "yesterday" in other languages:

🇵🇹 ontem

🇮🇳 कल

🇩🇪 gestern

🇮🇩 kemarin

🇺🇦 вчора

🇵🇱 wczoraj

🇯🇵 昨日 (きのう)

🇫🇷 hier

🇪🇸 ayer

🇹🇷 dün

🇰🇷 어제 (eoje)

🇸🇦 أمس

🇨🇿 včera

🇸🇰 včera

🇨🇳 昨天 (zuótiān)

🇸🇮 včeraj

🇮🇸 í gær

🇰🇿 кеше

🇬🇪 გუშინ (gushin)

🇦🇿 dünən

🇲🇽 ayer

Etymology

The word 'yesterday' originated from the Old English term 'geostran dæg', which literally means 'day before'. Over time, the pronunciation and spelling evolved to become 'yesterday'. The concept of referring to the day before the present day has been present in various languages and cultures throughout history, reflecting the universal experience of marking time and history.

See also: daily, day, daybed, daybreak, daylight, daypack, daystar, daytime, nowadays, today.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #3,573, this word is part of upper-intermediate vocabulary. While not among the most basic terms, it appears often enough to be valuable for advanced communication.