You use yet in negative statements to indicate that something has not happened up to the present time, although it probably will happen. You can also use yet in questions to ask if something has happened up to the present time. In British English the simple past tense is not normally used with this meaning of 'yet'.
They haven't finished yet.
No decision has yet been made.
She hasn't yet set a date for her retirement.
'Has the murderer been caught?'—'Not yet.'
Have you met my husband yet?
Hammer-throwing for women is not yet a major event.
Synonyms: so far, until now, up to now, still More Synonyms of yet
2. adverb [ADVERB with verb]
You use yet with a negative statement when you are talking about the past, to report something that was not the case then, although it became the case later.
There was so much that Sam didn't know yet.
He had asked around and learned that Billy was not yet here.
3. adverb [ADVERB with verb]
If you say that something should not or cannot be done yet, you mean that it should not or cannot be done now, although it will have to be doneat a later time.
Don't get up yet.
The hostages cannot go home just yet.
We should not yet abandon this option for the disposal of highly radioactive waste.
Synonyms: now, right now, just now, so soon More Synonyms of yet
4. adverb [noun ADVERB]
You use yet after a superlative to indicate, for example, that something is the worst or the best of its kind up to the present time.
This is the BBC's worst idea yet.
Her latest novel is her best yet.
...one of the toughest warnings yet delivered.
5. adverb [ADVERB before verb]
You can use yet to say that there is still a possibility that something will happen.
Like the best stories, this one may yet have a happy end.
A negotiated settlement might yet be possible.
6. adverb [noun ADVERB]
You can use yet after expressions which refer to a period of time, when you want to say how much longer a situation will continue for.
Unemployment will go on rising for some time yet.
Nothing will happen for a few years yet.
They'll be ages yet.
7. adverb [ADV to-inf]
If you say that you have yetto do something, you mean that you have never done it, especially when this is surprising or bad.
She has yet to spend a Christmas with her partner.
He has been nominated three times for the Oscar but has yet to win.
8. conjunction
You can use yet to introduce a fact which is rather surprising after the previous fact you have just mentioned.
I don't eat much, yet I am a size 16.
They were terrified James would die–yet there were moments when they almost wishedhe would.
It is completely waterproof, yet light and comfortable.
Synonyms: nevertheless, still, however, for all that More Synonyms of yet
9. adverb
You can use yet to emphasize a word, especially when you are saying that something is surprising because it is more extreme than previous things of its kind, or a further case of them.
[emphasis]
Yet bigger satellites will be sent up into orbit.
I saw yet another doctor.
They would criticize me, or worse yet, pay me no attention.
By then governments may have woken up to a yet more radical option.
We will not have anything to eat yet again.
10.
See as yet
usage note: In British English, yet and already are usually used with the present perfect tense. Have they said sorry or not yet?.. I have already started knitting baby clothes. This usage is becoming more common in British English. In American English, a pasttense is commonly used. I didn't get any sleep yet.. She already told the neighbors not to come.
More Synonyms of yet
English Easy Learning GrammarJoining clausesCoordination The process called coordination joins two short clauses of equal importance with aconjunction. Each clause becomes a main clause in the new ... Read more
yet in British English
(jɛt)
sentence connector
1.
nevertheless; still; in spite of that
I want to and yet I haven't the courage
she is strange yet kind
adverb
2. (usually used with a negative or interrogative)
so far; up until then or now
they're not home yet
is it teatime yet?
3. (often preceded by just; usually used with a negative)
now (as contrasted with later)
we can't stop yet
4. (often used with a comparative)
even; still
yet more potatoes for sale
yet another panel show on TV
5.
eventually, in spite of everything
we'll convince him yet
6. as yet
Word origin
Old English gēta; related to Old Frisian jēta
yet in American English
(jɛt)
adverb
1.
up to now or the time specified; thus far
he hasn't gone yet
2.
at the present time; now
we can't leave just yet
3.
still; even now; in the time still remaining
there is yet a chance for peace
4.
at some future time; sooner or later
she will thank you yet
5.
now or at a particular time, implying continuance from a preceding time
we could hear him yet
6.
in addition; further; still; even
usually with a comparative
he was yet more kind
7.
as much as; even
he did not come, nor yet write
8.
now, after all the time has elapsed
hasn't he finished yet?
9.
nevertheless
she is comfortable, yet lonely
conjunction
10.
but; regardless of this
she seems happy, yet she is troubled
Idioms:
as yet
have yet to (do something)
Word origin
ME yit < OE giet, gieta, akin to OFris ieta
More idioms containing
yet
so near and yet so far
Examples of 'yet' in a sentence
yet
Yet now you must truly relinquish those crucial responsibilities to certain individuals.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Yet just before the interview ended he did tell me that he felt remorse.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
They are almost always overpaid yet underwhelming.
The Sun (2016)
Yet she was much more than that.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The question of money is not yet pressing - although it cannot be ignored for very much longer.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It felt weird being in a country where I looked the part yet had a completely different mindset to the people who lived there.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Yet she now faces being summoned herself.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
That is not going to happen just yet.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Yet this almost certainly reflects changes in diagnosis.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It is comforting and satisfying yet fresh and light too.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
And the new gaffer has yet to win after two games.
The Sun (2015)
They are outside the system yet completely publicly funded.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Villa may have been behind yet still looked comfortable.
The Sun (2012)
Yet there may be a welcome extra dish to this sorry tale.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Yet the report says the overall picture for house prices remains relatively robust.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He merely seized yet another opportunity to be bad.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Yet the average time it takes to get a wind farm through planning is five years.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Yet he is going through the motions of having a life.
The Times Literary Supplement (2011)
Yet you can still find stylish accommodation on a lower budget.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Yet only now is he fully addressing the challenge of entering the family business.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
So no thoughts of moving out just yet?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Yet once again the buried memory tried to rise, bringing with it a cold shudder.
Kerr, Katharine A Time of War (1993)
Yet although we arrived only an instant ago, we have certainly made our presence known.
Appelbaum, Richard P. Sociology (1995)
Yet again, the retailer seems to have timed its move perfectly.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Yet although they did endure minor hardship and took menial jobs, it remained an artificial exercise.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
In other languages
yet
British English: yet /jɛt/ ADVERB
You use yet when you expect something to happen, but it hasn't happened.
They haven't finished building it yet.
American English: yet
Arabic: حَتَّى الآن
Brazilian Portuguese: ainda
Chinese: 仍
Croatian: još uvijek
Czech: ještě se nestalo
Danish: endnu
Dutch: nog
European Spanish: todavía negativo
Finnish: vielä
French: encore
German: bisher
Greek: ακόμα
Italian: ancora
Japanese: まだ
Korean: 아직
Norwegian: ennå
Polish: jeszcze
European Portuguese: ainda
Romanian: încă
Russian: еще
Latin American Spanish: todavía
Swedish: än
Thai: ยัง
Turkish: yine de
Ukrainian: ще
Vietnamese: chưa
Chinese translation of 'yet'
yet
(jɛt)
adv
(= up to now)
(with negative) 还(還) (hái)
(in questions) 已经(經) (yǐjīng)
⇒ Have you written to him yet?你已经写信给他了吗？ (Nǐ yǐjīng xiě xìn gěi tā le ma?)
(= now) (in negatives) 还(還) (hái)
⇒ He hasn't arrived yet.他还没来呢。 (Tā hái méi lái ne.)
⇒ Don't get up yet.先别起床。 (Xiān bié qǐchuáng.)
(= still) 仍然 (réngrán)
⇒ There may yet be time.仍有时间。 (Réng yǒu shíjiān.)
conj
然而 (rán'ér)
they haven't finished yet他们(們)还(還)没(沒)完工。 (tāmen hái méi wángōng)
not just yet现(現)在不 (xiànzài bù)
the best yet迄今最好的 (qìjīn zuì hǎo de)
as yet迄今为(為)止 (qìjīn wéizhǐ)
a few days yet还(還)有几(幾)天 (hái yǒu jǐ tiān)
to have yet to do sth还(還)没(沒)做某事 (hái méi zuò mǒushì)
yet another又一个(個) (yòu yī gè)
yet again又一次 (yòu yī cì)
1 (adverb)
Definition
up until then or now
They haven't finished yet.
Synonyms
so far
So far, they have had no success.
until now
up to now
still
I still dream of home.
as yet
even now
thus far
up till now
up to the present time
2 (adverb)
Definition
now (as contrasted with later)
Don't get up yet.
Synonyms
now
right now
just now
so soon
already
They've spent nearly a billion dollars on it already.
3 (adverb)
Definition
still
This weekend yet more uniformed soldiers were posted at official buildings.
Synonyms
still
further
Further, losing one day doesn't mean you won't win the next.
in addition
as well
I like the job, and the people I work with are very nice as well.
moreover
There was a man behind her. Moreover he was observing her strangely.
besides
It doesn't fit you, and besides it's dreadful!
to boot
additionally
The maintenance programme will additionally seek to keep sites graffiti-free.
over and above
into the bargain
Get in a bit of practice and have some fun into the bargain.
(conjunction)
Definition
nevertheless or still
She's only sixteen, yet she's very well read.
Synonyms
nevertheless
still
however
for all that
notwithstanding
just the same
be that as it may
Additional synonyms
in the sense of additionally
The maintenance programme will additionally seek to keep sites graffiti-free.
Synonyms
also,
further,
in addition,
as well,
moreover,
furthermore,
on top of that,
to boot
in the sense of already
Definition
before an implied or expected time
They've spent nearly a billion dollars on it already.
Synonyms
before now,
before,
previously,
at present,
by now,
by then,
even now,
by this time,
just now,
by that time,
heretofore,
as of now
in the sense of as well
Definition
in addition
I like the job, and the people I work with are very nice as well.
Synonyms
also,
too,
in addition,
moreover,
besides,
to boot,
into the bargain
Synonyms of 'yet'
yet
Explore 'yet' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of besides
Definition
in addition
It doesn't fit you, and besides it's dreadful!
Synonyms
also,
too,
further,
otherwise,
in addition,
as well,
moreover,
furthermore,
what's more,
into the bargain
in the sense of further
Definition
in addition
Further, losing one day doesn't mean you won't win the next.
Synonyms
in addition,
moreover,
besides,
furthermore,
also,
yet,
on top of,
what's more,
to boot,
additionally,
over and above,
as well as,
into the bargain
in the sense of into the bargain
Definition
besides
Get in a bit of practice and have some fun into the bargain.
Synonyms
too,
also,
further,
in addition,
as well,
moreover,
besides,
furthermore,
what's more
in the sense of moreover
Definition
in addition to what has already been said
There was a man behind her. Moreover he was observing her strangely.