Yesterday: Meaning, Pronunciation, and Usage

Meaning 1：the day before today (yesterday)

yesterday 🔊

/ˈjestərdeɪ/

n., adv.

The day before today.

Hand turning calendar page from Monday to Tuesday illustrating yesterday

the day before today 🔊

➕

/ðə deɪ bɪˈfɔːr təˈdeɪ/

n., adv.

Refers to the calendar day immediately preceding the current day.

📁 Category：Time & Dates 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old English 'geostran' (yesterday) + 'dæg' (day).

💡 Mnemonic

Think 'yes+terday'—say 'yes' to the day that just passed before today.

📖 Example

She was so tired yesterday because she stayed up late studying for her English test. 🔊 She was so tired yesterday because she stayed up late studying for her English test.

🔗 Collocations

yesterday morning – the morning of the day before today

yesterday evening – the evening of the day before today

yesterday's news – information that is no longer current or interesting

🔄 Synonyms

the previous day (n.) – A more formal phrase referring to the day before the current one.

the day before (n.) – A common phrase indicating the day immediately prior.

last day (n.) – Often used in contexts like 'last day of the week' but can mean yesterday in informal speech.

🚫 Antonyms

today (n./adv.) – This current day.

tomorrow (n./adv.) – The day after today.

the next day (n.) – The day following a given day, opposite of yesterday.

📖 Cultural Story

In English, 'yesterday' traces back to Proto-Germanic *gesterdagaz. Its use in phrases like 'yesterday's news' highlights the rapid obsolescence of information in modern media culture.