Yesterday
'jɛstərdeɪ
Definitions
2 meaningsThe day that preceded the present day.
'jɛstərdeɪ
The day immediately before today.
She arrived yesterday.
💡 Simply: Yesterday is like the day that already happened. It's what we call the day that came right before today. For example, 'I went to the park yesterday.'
👶 For kids: Yesterday is the day that already happened! Like, if today is Tuesday, yesterday was Monday.
More Examples
The rain started yesterday afternoon.
We finished the project yesterday.
How It's Used
"I saw her yesterday."
"The meeting was held yesterday."
On the day preceding the current day.
'jɛstərdeɪ
On the day before today.
I went to the store yesterday.
💡 Simply: You use 'yesterday' when talking about something that happened on the day before today. For example, 'I ate pizza yesterday.'
👶 For kids: Yesterday means the day before today, like when you played yesterday!
More Examples
They called me yesterday.
He studied hard yesterday.
How It's Used
"I saw the movie yesterday."
"Were you busy yesterday?"
From Middle English yesterdai, yester- + day, meaning "the day before today."
Used consistently throughout history to denote the previous day.
Memory tip
Think of the sun setting the day before.
Word Origin
"of the previous day"