yes·ter·day
ˈye-stər-(ˌ)dā 
-dē
1
: on the day last past : on the day preceding today
2
: at a time not long past : only a short time ago
I wasn't born yesterday
1
: the day last past : the day next before the present
2
: recent time : time not long past
3
: past time
—usually used in plural
Examples of yesterday in a Sentence
Adverb
It rained heavily yesterday afternoon.
I mailed the application early yesterday morning.
It was good to see you yesterday.
Noun
Yesterday's game was canceled because of the rain.
The radio program features yesterday's songs as well as today's.
Today's cars aren't all that different from the models of yesterday.
Recent Examples on the Web
Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 12 Apr. 2024
The pair arrived here yesterday from Paris, and de Rosnay’s luggage still hasn’t shown up.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 11 Apr. 2024
Palestinians walk through the destruction in Khan Younis yesterday.
—NBC News, 9 Apr. 2024
And his work is now being featured at a solo exhibition that opened yesterday at American University here in Washington.
—CBS News, 7 Apr. 2024
Barcelona has mortgaged many tomorrows to pay for the sins of yesterday.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2024
The Yankees added a starting pitcher via trade yesterday, acquiring JT Brubaker from the Pittsburgh Pirates with a $500,000 international bonus pool allotment for a player to be named later.
—Daniel R. Epstein, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
The Transportation Department announced $60 million in emergency funding yesterday for the cleanup and rebuilding effort.
—Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 29 Mar. 2024
The bodies of the victims recovered yesterday were identified as Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, who was 35, and Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, who was 26.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 28 Mar. 2024
Noun
Today's top stories Orenthal James Simpson, known as O.J., died yesterday at 76 after a battle with cancer.
—Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 12 Apr. 2024
The pair arrived here yesterday from Paris, and de Rosnay’s luggage still hasn’t shown up.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 11 Apr. 2024
Palestinians walk through the destruction in Khan Younis yesterday.
—NBC News, 9 Apr. 2024
And his work is now being featured at a solo exhibition that opened yesterday at American University here in Washington.
—CBS News, 7 Apr. 2024
Barcelona has mortgaged many tomorrows to pay for the sins of yesterday.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2024
The Yankees added a starting pitcher via trade yesterday, acquiring JT Brubaker from the Pittsburgh Pirates with a $500,000 international bonus pool allotment for a player to be named later.
—Daniel R. Epstein, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
The Transportation Department announced $60 million in emergency funding yesterday for the cleanup and rebuilding effort.
—Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 29 Mar. 2024
The bodies of the victims recovered yesterday were identified as Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, who was 35, and Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, who was 26.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 28 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'yesterday.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near yesterday
Cite this Entry
“Yesterday.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yesterday. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
yesterday
1 of 2 adverb
yes·ter·day
ˈyes-tərd-ē
1
: on the day before today
2
: at a time not long past
yesterday
2 of 2 noun1
: the day next before the present
2
: recent time : time not long past
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