yesteryear
noun
yes·ter·year
ˈye-stər-ˌyir 
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
Ever since Spurrier lit up scoreboards, Florida fans have yearned for yesteryear.
—
Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2026
Positional value, as the running backs of yesteryear would tell you, can change drastically over time.
—Joseph Hoyt, Dallas Morning News, 6 Feb. 2026
The dim lighting helps blur the barriers between yesteryear and today.
—Brad Japhe, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026
In an idyllic Tuscan town, the life of Elisa (Matilde Gioli) is turned upside down when a childhood friend returns, reawakening feelings from yesteryear.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 27 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for yesteryear
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Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2026
Positional value, as the running backs of yesteryear would tell you, can change drastically over time.
—Joseph Hoyt, Dallas Morning News, 6 Feb. 2026
The dim lighting helps blur the barriers between yesteryear and today.
—Brad Japhe, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026
In an idyllic Tuscan town, the life of Elisa (Matilde Gioli) is turned upside down when a childhood friend returns, reawakening feelings from yesteryear.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 27 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for yesteryear
Cite this Entry
“Yesteryear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yesteryear. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
yesteryear
noun
yes·ter·year
ˈyes-tər-ˌyi(ə)r
1
: last year
2
: the recent past
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