day before yesterday
The day that occurred immediately before yesterday, referring to two days ago from today. It is used to pinpoint a specific time in the recent past in relation to the current day.
Examples
3 of 5I saw him at the supermarket the day before yesterday.
I saw him at the supermarket the day before yesterday.
The committee concluded its preliminary findings the day before yesterday.
The committee concluded its preliminary findings the day before yesterday.
The day before yesterday was so much fun!
The day before yesterday was so much fun!
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of a calendar and take two steps back from 'today.' Skip 'yesterday' to land on the 'day before' it.
Quick Quiz
Today is Wednesday, so Monday was the ___.
Correct!
The correct answer is: day before yesterday
Examples
I saw him at the supermarket the day before yesterday.
everydayI saw him at the supermarket the day before yesterday.
The committee concluded its preliminary findings the day before yesterday.
formalThe committee concluded its preliminary findings the day before yesterday.
The day before yesterday was so much fun!
informalThe day before yesterday was so much fun!
Data collection commenced the day before yesterday to ensure a full week of observation.
academicData collection commenced the day before yesterday to ensure a full week of observation.
We received the signed contract the day before yesterday.
businessWe received the signed contract the day before yesterday.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
only the day before yesterday
emphasizing how very recently it happened
just the day before yesterday
just two days ago
back the day before yesterday
referring back to that specific day
Often Confused With
Yesterday is one day ago; the day before yesterday is two days ago.
Last two days refers to a duration of 48 hours, while this term refers to one specific day.
Usage Notes
It is used primarily as an adverbial phrase to indicate a specific point in time. It usually appears at the beginning or the end of a sentence.
Common Mistakes
Avoid using prepositions like 'on' or 'at' before the phrase; do not say 'on the day before yesterday.'
Memory Tip
Think of a calendar and take two steps back from 'today.' Skip 'yesterday' to land on the 'day before' it.
Word Origin
A compound phrase combining 'day', 'before', and 'yesterday' (from Old English geostran dæg).
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
Many other languages have a single word for this concept (like 'anteayer' in Spanish), so English learners must remember the three-word construction.
Quick Quiz
Today is Wednesday, so Monday was the ___.
Correct!
The correct answer is: day before yesterday
Related Grammar Rules
Related Vocabulary
More Time words
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A1Dinner time is the period of the day when people usually eat their main meal, typically in the evening. It can also refer to the specific clock time when a family or group sits down to eat together.
hour
A1A unit of time that lasts for sixty minutes. There are twenty-four of these units in one full day.
century
A1A century is a period of 100 years. It is a common unit of time used to group historical events and long durations.
interval
A1An interval is a period of time between two events or actions. It can also describe the space between two objects or musical notes.
era
A1An era is a long and distinct period of history with a particular feature or characteristic. It is used to group years together based on a specific theme, person, or invention.
age
A1Age refers to the amount of time a person has lived or an object has existed. It is also used to describe a particular period in history or a stage of life.
Wednesday
A1Wednesday is the third day of the work week, occurring between Tuesday and Thursday. It is generally considered the middle of the standard five-day working week.
Friday
A1Friday is the fifth day of the week, falling between Thursday and Saturday. In many Western cultures, it is the final day of the standard work and school week.
weekday
A1A weekday is any day of the week except Saturday and Sunday. These are typically the days when people go to work or school, covering Monday through Friday.
tomorrow
A1The day that occurs immediately after the present day. It is used to refer to the near future or a specific date following today.
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