yesteryear

noun

yes·​ter·​year ˈye-stər-ˌyir 

1

: last year

2

: time gone by

especially : the recent past

yesteryear adverb

Did you know?

Word History of Yesteryear

Mais où sont les neiges d’antan is the refrain of a famous poem by François Villon, translated as “But where are the snows of yesteryear?” The line is understood to express a melancholy nostalgia.

The translation was by the English poet Dante Gabriel Rossetti. Both the French antan and yesteryear originally simply meant “last year,” but today their meaning has broadened to “time gone by.”

Synonyms of yesteryear

• past

Examples of yesteryear in a Sentence

the simple games of yesteryear that kept children entertained for hours

Recent Examples on the Web

Arrange them on a shelf for a touch of yesteryear in your kitchen. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 15 June 2026

Lincoln’s status isn’t the same as its yesteryear glory. — James Raia, Mercury News, 21 June 2026

These are not the Bermuda shorts of yesteryear—they’re roomier, tailored, and much more chic. — Erika Reals, InStyle, 23 June 2026

Ready for a summer restock of body care products but missing your favorite scents from yesteryear? — Kelsey Legg, ABC News, 15 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

yesterday + year

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing yesteryear

• of yesteryear

Rhymes for yesteryear

• acyclovir
• asthenosphere
• ganciclovir
• magnetosphere
• atmosphere
• biosphere
• centromere
• chemosphere
• chromosphere
• hemisphere
• hydrosphere
• lithosphere

Kids Definition

yesteryear

noun

yes·​ter·​year ˈyes-tər-ˌyi(ə)r 

1

: last year

2

: the recent past