/ jet; NAmE / adverb , conjunction
■ adverb
1.
used in negative sentences and questions to talk about sth that has not happened but that you expect to happen : ( BrE )
I haven't received a letter from him yet.
( NAmE )
I didn't receive a letter from him yet.
'Are you ready?' 'No, not yet.'
We have yet to decide what action to take (= We have not decided what action to take) .
➡ note at already
2.
(used in negative sentences) now; as soon as this :
Don't go yet.
We don't need to start yet.
3.
from now until the period of time mentioned has passed :
He'll be busy for ages yet.
They won't arrive for at least two hours yet.
4.
could, might, may, etc. do sth ~ used to say that sth could, might, etc. happen in the future, even though it seems unlikely :
We may win yet.
( formal )
She could yet surprise us all.
5.
the best, longest, etc. sth ~ (done) the best, longest, etc. thing of its kind made, produced, written, etc. until now / then :
the most comprehensive study yet of his music
It was the highest building yet constructed.
6.
yet another / more | yet again used to emphasize an increase in number or amount or the number of times sth happens :
snow, snow and yet more snow
yet another diet book
Prices were cut yet again (= once more, after many other times) .
7.
yet worse, more importantly, etc. used to emphasize an increase in the degree of sth (= how bad, important, etc. it is)
SYN even , still :
a recent and yet more improbable theory
•
IDIOMS
- as yet
■ conjunction
despite what has just been said
SYN nevertheless :
It's a small car, yet it's surprisingly spacious.
He has a good job, and yet he never seems to have any money.
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English gīet(a) , of unknown origin.