yesterday

1.adverbA1

Definition

on the day that came before today — used to say when something happened in relation to the present day.

Example

Noor went to the pharmacy yesterday to pick up her medicine.

yesterday with simple past tense

The jacket that Yuki ordered online yesterday has already arrived.

yesterday in a relative clause modifying a noun

Common collocations

yesterday morning
yesterday afternoon
yesterday evening
late yesterday
only yesterday

Synonyms

the previous day
more formal; used in narrative or written reports

Antonyms

tomorrow
the opposite time direction from today

Grammar Patterns

yesterday + past simple

Usage Note

The most common use of 'yesterday'. Requires a past-tense verb — never use with present or future tenses. No preposition (on, in, at) is needed before 'yesterday'.

Common Mistakes

I go yesterday to the market.

I went to the market yesterday.

The verb must be in past tense when 'yesterday' is used.

I did it on yesterday.

I did it yesterday.

No preposition is needed before 'yesterday'.

2.adverbB2

Definition

an informal, exaggerated way of demanding that something happen right away — often because the speaker feels there has already been too much delay.

Example

The boss wants that report finished yesterday, not by next week!

figurative urgency with 'wants + object + yesterday'

Ryo told the plumber, "I need this pipe fixed yesterday — the basement is flooding."

imperative context: 'need + object + yesterday'

Common collocations

wants it yesterday
needed it yesterday
should have been done yesterday

Synonyms

immediately
neutral and formal; the standard word for urgency
right now
informal but less exaggerated than 'yesterday'
as soon as possible
polite and professional; softer than 'yesterday'

Antonyms

eventually
suggests no urgency, opposite of immediate demand

Grammar Patterns

wants/needs + noun + yesterday

yesterday used adverbially for urgency

Usage Note

Strictly informal. Common in workplace complaints, customer-service frustrations, and urgent requests. Often appears in exclamations. Do not use in academic or formal writing.

Common Mistakes

The committee requires the submission yesterday.' (formal context)

The committee requires immediate submission.

This idiomatic usage is too informal for official correspondence.

Idioms

not be born yesterday

idiom

It means that someone is not easily tricked or fooled because they have enough experience.

Maya smiled and said, "I wasn't born yesterday, you know."

Do you think I'd believe that story? I wasn't born yesterday!

1.nounA1

Definition

the day that came before today — referring to that day as a thing, event, or period of time rather than a time marker.

Example

Yesterday was Apinya's first day at her new job.

yesterday as subject of the sentence

I will never forget yesterday — it was the most exciting day of the trip.

yesterday as object of the verb

Common collocations

yesterday's meeting
yesterday's news
yesterday's weather
yesterday's date

Synonyms

the previous day
more formal; used in written narratives and reports

Antonyms

today
the present day
tomorrow
the next day

Grammar Patterns

yesterday as subject

yesterday as object

yesterday's + noun

Usage Note

Unlike the adverb form, the noun 'yesterday' can be the subject ('Yesterday was rainy') or object ('I enjoyed yesterday') of a sentence. It also takes the possessive form 'yesterday's' to describe things belonging to or happening on that day.

Common Mistakes

❌ 'Yesterday's meeting was very productive.' (correct, but often overused with 's) — Ensure you need the noun form; if you mean 'on the day before,' use the adverb: 'We met yesterday.'

2.nounA2

Definition

the day that was two days before today — used in the fixed phrase 'the day before yesterday' to refer to the day before the most recent one.

Example

Anjali arrived the day before yesterday, so she has already settled into her apartment.

fixed phrase: 'the day before yesterday' as a time noun

The job interview was supposed to be the day before yesterday, but the company rescheduled it.

'the day before yesterday' as sentence subject complement

Common collocations

the day before yesterday

Synonyms

two days ago
more direct and common than 'the day before yesterday'

Grammar Patterns

the day before yesterday

Usage Note

Almost always appears in the set phrase 'the day before yesterday.' This is the standard English way to refer to two days ago. Avoid the non-standard form 'before yesterday' without 'the day.'

Common Mistakes

I met her before yesterday.

I met her the day before yesterday.

The full phrase 'the day before yesterday' is required in standard English.

3.nounB1

Definition

times or events in the recent past that are remembered or contrasted with the present — often used in the plural form 'yesterdays' to create a poetic or nostalgic tone.

Example

Nora smiled as she thought about all the happy yesterdays of her childhood.

plural 'yesterdays' meaning 'past happy times'

The older generation often says that all yesterdays were better than today.

'all yesterdays' as a general reference to the past

Common collocations

the yesterdays of
all the yesterdays
happy yesterdays

Synonyms

the past
neutral and general; less poetic than 'yesterdays'
bygone days
formal and literary; similar nostalgic tone
former times
neutral formality; slightly old-fashioned

Antonyms

the future
time yet to come
tomorrow
the next day or the future metaphorically

Grammar Patterns

the yesterdays of + noun

all the yesterdays

Usage Note

More common in literature, song lyrics, and reflective speech than in everyday conversation. The plural 'yesterdays' is the typical form for this sense. Often carries a tone of nostalgia or regret.

Common Mistakes

I miss the yesterdays.' (vague, sounds unnatural)

I miss the yesterdays of my youth.

The plural form needs a qualifying phrase (of + noun) to sound natural.

Word family

yesteryear
nounC1
yesterdays
nounB1
yesterday's
adjectiveA2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/3

'Yesterdays' (the plural noun form) carries a distinctly nostalgic or poetic tone — it frames past times as emotionally remembered moments, as in 'the happy yesterdays of childhood.' 'The past' is the most neutral and broad term, covering any time before the present, from seconds ago to centuries ago. 'Bygone days' is formal and literary, strongly suggesting that the era being referred to is completely over and unrecoverable. 'Former times' is mildly formal and factual, often used in historical or sociological contexts without the emotional weight of 'yesterdays.' For everyday conversation about the recent past, native speakers typically say 'the past' or 'the old days.' Use 'yesterdays' when you want to create a wistful or reflective mood — it is more at home in a diary entry or a speech than in casual chat.

yesterday (plural: yesterdays)the pastbygone daysformer times

Common collocations

Nouns

yesterday morning
yesterday afternoon
yesterday evening
yesterday's meeting
yesterday's news
yesterday's weather

Adverbs

only yesterday
late yesterday
early yesterday

Phrases

the day before yesterday
all the yesterdays
yesterday's world

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

From Old English 'geostran dæg' — 'geostran' meaning 'yesterday' (cognate with Old High German 'gestaron' and modern German 'gestern') combined with 'dæg' (day). The word has been used continuously for over a thousand years, appearing in the earliest English writings.

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yesterday

yesterday — adverb

1. on the day that came before today — used to say when something happened in relat

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. an informal, exaggerated way of demanding that something happen right away — oft

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

not be born yesterday

yesterday — noun

1. the day that came before today — referring to that day as a thing, event, or per

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. the day that was two days before today — used in the fixed phrase 'the day befor

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

3. times or events in the recent past that are remembered or contrasted with the pr

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Etymology

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