Skip to main content
as yet

as yet

35 3.5
Up to the present time, often used when something has not happened
  • idiom
  • Formal
translation icon : hasta ahora
  • The reason for this does not seem clear as yet.
  • as yet unknown
  • as yet unidentified
  • as yet unclear

That's very hard, though, and it's as yet an unsolved problem.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • As yet, no statement has been made by the new rulers of Cambodia.

  • We do not believe these missiles are as yet operational.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • We have never met as yet.

  • Apparently, there have been no reported cases as yet in South America or in Africa.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • The reasons why are as yet unclear.

  • I haven't had the pleasure of meeting your son as yet.

  • There hasn't been any modern archaeology to my knowledge as yet in the region.

  • As yet, the Pope has not granted a dispensation.

  • The article concludes with as yet unanswered questions about the roles of physicians in nursing homes.

    Academic text (1995)
  • We have never met as yet.

Synonyms

yet
vsas yet
1.0

Up to now

is a fixed phrase used especially in negative statements or questions
so far
vsas yet
1.0

Up to now

is similar but favours negative or question contexts
until now
vsas yet
300 1.0

Up to the present time

is more often used specifically in negative statements or questions
thus far
vsas yet
132 3.5

Up to now

is used more in negative statements or questions than neutral speech
up to now
vsas yet
30 1.6

Before now, until the present moment

is the same idea but typically appears in negative or question forms
hitherto
vsas yet
  • Archaic
11 8.2

Up to now

is used more in common negative statements or questions
heretofore
vsas yet
  • Formal
7 9.7

Before this time

is less formal and used especially in negatives or questions
theretofore
vsas yet
  • Archaic
1 9.9

Before that time

is a modern, less formal alternative used in negatives or questions

Antonyms

1.0

Before the time you expect something to happen

Surface Forms

as yet positive

Morphology

as + yet

The temporal meaning 'up to the present time' is directly supplied by 'yet', while 'as' here acts as a linking/emphatic particle that does not obscure the temporal sense. Because the phrase is simply a conventionalized combination where the constituent meanings compose predictably (equivalent to 'so far' or 'not yet'), a B1 learner who knows both words will generally understand it.

Etymology

The phrase as yet may come from older English where as meant 'that much' and yet meant 'still'. This gives the simple idea 'still up to this time', so as yet is used to mean 'up to now'.