yesterday

American  

[yes-ter-dey, -dee] / ˈyɛs tərˌdeɪ, -di /

adverb

1. on the day preceding this day.

2. a short time ago.

   Yesterday your money went further.

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noun

1. the day preceding this day.

2. time in the immediate past.

adjective

1. belonging or pertaining to the day before or to a time in the immediate past.

   yesterday morning.

yesterday British  

/ -ˌdeɪ, ˈjɛstədɪ /

noun

1. the day immediately preceding today

2. (often plural) the recent past

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adverb

1. on or during the day before today

2. in the recent past

yesterday Idioms  

1. see not born yesterday.

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Other Word Forms

• yesterdayness noun

Etymology

Origin of yesterday

before 950; Middle English; Old English geostran dæg. See yester-, day

Example Sentences

She added: "It's a great neighbourhood, I'm sure it's just a one off. The police were very good yesterday, it was reassuring to have so many around."

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

"I would appeal again to anyone who was in the Kennerleigh Avenue area in the early hours of yesterday morning to come forward if they have any information which could assist our investigation."

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026

Infratil yesterday upgraded a forecast for Ebitdaf from its CDC data-centers business to A$680 million-A$720 million in FY 2027.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

"It is with heavy hearts that our family shares the sudden passing of our beloved Chuck Norris yesterday morning," the family said in a statement on Instagram.

From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026

When she comes back, she puts on the dressed-up-like-Ray clothes she wore yesterday.

From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko