Definition and meaning of English word "yesterday"
yesterday
/jɛstədeɪ/
Meaning
NounThe day immediately before today; one day ago.
How to use
In formal and informal contexts, 'yesterday' is used to refer to the day immediately preceding the current day. It is commonly used in sentences such as 'I went to the store yesterday' or 'I was tired yesterday.' However, learners often confuse 'yesterday' with 'the day before yesterday,' which is a different concept. For example, 'I went to the store yesterday' implies that the action took place on the day before the current day, whereas 'I was tired the day before yesterday' implies that the tiredness occurred two days ago.
🇬🇧 English
yesterday
Example
I saw him yesterday
She came yesterday
Your personal vocabulary
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Common phrases
- yesterday morning— the morning of the day before
- yesterday evening— the evening of the day before
- yesterday night— the night of the day before
- the day after yesterday— the day after the day before
- the day before yesterday— the day before the day before
This concept in other languages
Frequency rank: #202 in English
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does the English word "yesterday" mean?▼
The English word "yesterday" means "yesterday" in English.
How do you pronounce the English word "yesterday"?▼
You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "yesterday" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.
Can I see an example sentence with "yesterday"?▼
Yes, here is a practical example: "Past day" (which translates as "yesterday").
More Time & Calendar words
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