Synonyms for Yet

Updated 2026-10-12 · Synonyms List editorial team

Quick answer: The word yet is a versatile term often used to indicate up to a certain point or until something happens. When seeking another word for yet, consider options like still, stillness, or already depending on the sentence structure. You can also use no sooner, hardly, or not until to convey similar meanings of waiting or progression over time.

Closest Synonyms for Yet

still: Continues an action; The rain kept falling still.
already: Completed before expected; She has already left.
no sooner: Immediately after; No sooner had we arrived.
hardly: Barely or almost not; Hardly had we started.
not until: Waiting for a specific time; Not until noon.
till: Until a time; Wait till tomorrow.
until: Up to a point; Wait until five.
up to now: indicates the time leading to the present moment, as in no progress has been made up to now
as of late: refers to a recent period of time, such as sales have been as of late declining
nowadays: means in the current time period, for example everyone uses smartphones nowadays
until now: signifies that a situation has existed without change up to the present, he has never traveled until now
up to this point: marks the current stage in a sequence of events, we have discussed much up to this point
so far: describes the extent of something known or experienced currently, we have raised enough money so far
for now: implies a temporary state that may change later, let us rest for now

Formal Synonyms for Yet

hitherto: Up to now; No progress hitherto.
as yet: Until now; Nothing has been done as yet.
thus far: Up to this point; We have worked thus far.
to date: Until present time; No issues to date.
thus: In this manner; He thus refused.
presently: Soon or shortly; We shall meet presently.
forthwith: Immediately; Act forthwith.
herein: Within this; The details are herein.
heretofore: Until now; Heretofore unknown.

Informal Synonyms for Yet

ever: At any time; Have you ever tried?
now: At this time; I am ready now.
soon: In a short time; I will be back soon.
wait: Hold until; Wait a minute.
hold on: Pause briefly; Hold on please.
give it time: Wait patiently; Give it time.
wait and see: Wait for outcome; Let us wait and see.
later: At a future time; See you later.
afterwards: Subsequently; We ate, then ran afterwards.

Stronger and Weaker Words

never: Stronger; Completely not.
rarely: Weaker; Not often.
seldom: Weaker; Not frequently.
scarcely: Stronger; Almost not.
barely: Stronger; Just enough.
almost: Weaker; Nearly.
nearly: Weaker; Almost.

Antonyms for Yet

finally
just
before
previously
ago
earlier
beforehand
in advance
up front
prior to
earlier on
ahead

How to Pick the Right Synonym

Select a synonym based on the tone and context of your sentence. If you need to emphasize that an action continues, choose still or still. For completion before expectation, already works best. Formal writing favors hitherto or thus far, while casual conversation suits wait and see or give it time. Always read the sentence aloud to ensure the replacement flows naturally without altering the original meaning.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does yet mean in a sentence?

Yet usually indicates something that has not happened or is continuing. It can also refer to time up to a specific point, as in waiting until a certain moment or checking status before an event occurs.

Can yet be used at the beginning of a sentence?

Yes, yet can start a sentence to contrast with the previous thought. For example, You should try it, yet I prefer the old style. This usage is common in informal writing and speech.

What is the difference between yet and still?

Still often emphasizes continuation of an action, while yet focuses on something not having happened or a point in time. They are interchangeable in some contexts but differ in nuance regarding completion versus duration.

Are there formal alternatives for using yet?

Yes, formal alternatives include hitherto, thus far, and as yet. These phrases convey the same meaning of up to now or until a specific point without the casual tone of the single word yet.