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

“Sorry,” he said brightly, “I threw up in that seat on the 405 yesterday, but I think I mostly cleaned it up.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

Paris prosecutors alleged yesterday that 58-year-old Russian citizen Dmitry Klyuev masterminded a 2007 scheme that stole $230 million from Russia’s treasury.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 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

They’re the eyes I saw yesterday when Theo didn’t know I was looking at him in the hallway, deep and serious.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse