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

Porter promised a return to yesteryear in a speech that was a far cry from old-time political rhetoric. —Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026

The store also offers vintage cake plates, sugar and creamers, cookie jars to help customers pay a nod to yesteryear. —Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026

While the look reads glamorous or vintage, it’s not meant to connect to yesteryear’s femininity. —Kiana Murden, Vogue, 15 Feb. 2026

Ever since Spurrier lit up scoreboards, Florida fans have yearned for yesteryear. —Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Feb. 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