yesterday
Americanadverb
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on the day preceding this day.
-
a short time ago.
Yesterday your money went further.
noun
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the day preceding this day.
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time in the immediate past.
adjective
noun
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the day immediately preceding today
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(often plural) the recent past
adverb
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on or during the day before today
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in the recent past
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of yesterday
before 950; Middle English; Old English geostran dæg. See yester-, day
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
“It is with profound sadness that we share the heartbreaking news that one of our TSD seniors, Kaylee Hottle, tragically passed away yesterday in a car accident in Frederick, Maryland,” read the Instagram post.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
At lunchtime, Burnham will gather his cabinet for the first time, after its appointment yesterday became something of a nocturnal affair.
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
We were talking yesterday, I had to figure out how to deal with his taxes.
From Salon ● Jul. 20, 2026
"There were many consultations yesterday and today. Of course, I hear what people are saying," Zelensky said in an evening address, adding that he had spoken with both Syrsky and Fedorov.
From Barron's ● Jul. 18, 2026
Even though yesterday was a disaster, maybe this place can be my inspiration, and I can help Denny and Brandon.
From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila
With both of us facing more yesterdays than tomorrows, I cop to midlife anxiety, feeling like time is running out for goals such as learning Spanish or how to swim.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 10, 2026
More important may be simply having a reason to remember some of the yesterdays of a franchise that has 48 rich years of history.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 28, 2023
“Thank you to everyone who has donated to @CalsAngels after yesterdays win! Thank you for making a difference against childhood cancer,” Gould tweeted.
From Washington Times ● Jan. 24, 2022
“We’re all in our twilight years; we have more yesterdays than tomorrows,” Davis said.
From Washington Post ● Oct. 4, 2021
Let us be dissatisfied until the dark yesterdays of segregated schools will be transformed into bright tomorrows of quality integrated education.
From "While the World Watched: A Birmingham Bombing Survivor Comes of Age during the Civil Rights Movement" by Carolyn Maull McKinstry
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
