yet
yeht
Yet (adv) means Up until now; so far — often used in questions and negative statements. Example: “Have you finished the report yet?”
adv
1
Up until now; so far — often used in questions and negative statements.
"Have you finished the report yet?"
"We haven't decided yet."
"My parcel hasn't arrived yet, so I will phone the shop."
2
At some point in the future; eventually.
"She may yet change her mind."
"Our team could yet win the league if we play well on Saturday."
"He may yet find the keys he lost last week."
conj
1
Nevertheless; but; despite that.
"It was raining, yet they went ahead with the picnic."
"The soup was very simple, yet it tasted wonderful."
"She was tired after the long shift, yet she still cooked dinner."
How to use yet
Learner’s notesIn plain English"Up to now" in questions/negatives, "still" in positive statements, or "but" as a connector.
Common mistake
"Not yet" means something hasn't happened up to now but might later; don't confuse it with a flat "no".
Common pairings
not yet
has yet to
yet again
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Word forms
- Plural
- yets
- Third person singular
- yets
- Past tense
- yetted, yoten, yot, yotten
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Have you finished the report _____?
Etymology
From Old English giet, going back to Germanic roots meaning roughly "already" combined with a word meaning "toward" — the same distant root family as "aye".
Synonyms
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Rhymes for yet
See all rhymes for yet →Frequently asked questions
What does “yet” mean?
The word “yet” means up until now; so far — often used in questions and negative statements. In plain terms, "Up to now" in questions/negatives, "still" in positive statements, or "but" as a connector.
How do you pronounce “yet”?
“Yet” is pronounced yeht (/jɛt/ in IPA).
How do you use “yet” in a sentence?
Here is “yet” used in a sentence: “Have you finished the report yet?”
What is another word for “yet”?
Words with a similar meaning to “yet” include even now, still, erenow, so far, to date and formerly.
What part of speech is “yet”?
Depending on how it is used, “yet” can be an adverb and a conjunction.
Where does the word “yet” come from?
The word “yet” comes from Old English. From Old English giet, going back to Germanic roots meaning roughly "already" combined with a word meaning "toward" — the same distant root family as "aye".
Is “yet” a common word?
“Yet” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “yet” have?
“Yet” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: up until now; so far — often used in questions and negative statements.
What is the difference between 'yet' and 'still'?
'Yet' refers to something expected that has not happened up to now, and usually appears in questions and negatives: 'Has it arrived yet?' 'Still' stresses that a situation continues longer than expected: 'It is still raining.' In short, 'yet' looks for a change, while 'still' marks one that hasn't come.
What is the difference between 'yet' and 'already'?
Both concern actions around the present moment, but 'already' says something has happened, often sooner than expected: 'She has already left.' 'Yet' asks whether it has happened or notes that it hasn't: 'She hasn't left yet.' 'Already' suits positive statements, and 'yet' suits questions and negatives.
Where do you put 'yet' in a sentence?
In its 'up to now' sense, 'yet' normally goes at the end of a clause: 'I haven't finished yet,' or 'Are we there yet?' It follows the verb and any object. This differs from the conjunction 'yet' meaning 'but,' which starts a contrasting clause.
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