yesteryear

noun

yes·​ter·​year ˈye-stər-ˌyir How to pronounce yesteryear (audio)
1
: last year
2
: time gone by
especially : the recent past
yesteryear adverb

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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.”

Examples of yesteryear in a Sentence

the simple games of yesteryear that kept children entertained for hours
Recent Examples on the Web Add a touch of yesteryear to your Easter celebration with these old-school decorations, from store-bought to hand-crafted. Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Feb. 2024 Song portrays no passion for yesteryear’s Korean home or for her current American situ. Armond White, National Review, 8 Dec. 2023 Throughout the piece, Rodrigo lists several other influences, both of today and yesteryear. Henry Chandonnet, Peoplemag, 7 July 2023 While the swing skirts of the yesteryear were replaced with low-rise, sequined Bermuda shorts and signature tweed ensembles, the evening felt sublimely timeless. Eliseé Browchuk, Vogue, 7 Sep. 2023 The Chia Pet has occasionally been described as an artifact of a now-chintzy cultural yesteryear. Alex Traub, New York Times, 30 June 2023 Thankfully, in general, today's options are much more compact than the record players of yesteryear. goodhousekeeping.com, 15 Apr. 2023 Squirrels and birdies can visit fairways of yesteryear. Karie Angell Luc, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2023 Think of it as your prep for the water cooler chats of yesteryear. Rasputin Todd, The Enquirer, 10 Apr. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'yesteryear.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

yesterday + year

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of yesteryear was in 1870

Dictionary Entries Near yesteryear

Cite this Entry

“Yesteryear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yesteryear. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

yesteryear

noun
yes·​ter·​year ˈyes-tər-ˌyi(ə)r How to pronounce yesteryear (audio)
1
: last year
2
: the recent past

More from Merriam-Webster on yesteryear

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