not back yet

USAGE SUMMARY

'not back yet' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone has not returned or is still in the process of returning. For example, "My brother left for college two weeks ago but he's not back yet."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

"How come he's not back yet?

The New Yorker

They're not back yet, there's a ways to go, but they're getting closer".

The New Yorker

"What's happening now is that the full-grown optimism is not back yet.

The New York Times

"Our unemployment numbers are not back yet to where they were in 2008.

The Guardian

I'm giving it all I've got, and it's just not back yet".

The New York Times - Sports

The giant fiberglass Barnacle Bill lies on its back awaiting resurrection when the golf course is repaired, perhaps by July 4. The Ortley Boardwalk is not back yet.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

"I feel like my game isn't back yet," she said.

The Guardian - Sport

A third of the people aren't back yet but the culture's going to survive and we know this.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

On May 3 I saw a urologist, and he drew blood for tests, but the results weren't back yet that weekend when my health degenerated rapidly.

The New York Times

Blood and urine had been sent for culture, to see if any bacteria grew from it, but those results weren't back yet.

The New York Times

He went out for a run one afternoon and it must have been about 10 at night, we noticed he wasn't back yet.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not back yet" when referring to an expected return that has not yet occurred. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "not back yet" with past tense verbs. For example, instead of saying "He was not back yet yesterday", use "He wasn't back yesterday."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not back yet" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate that an expected return has not yet occurred. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Science

1%

Reference

0.5%

Social Media

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "not back yet" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adverbial phrase, indicating that an expected return has not yet occurred. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's commonly used in News and Media but fits seamlessly into various contexts, both formal and informal. When using this phrase, ensure correct tense usage to avoid common errors. Consider alternatives like "still not returned" or "hasn't returned yet" for nuanced expressions. "Not back yet" serves the communicative purpose of expressing incompletion or anticipation in multiple situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

still not returned

Emphasizes the lack of return up to the present moment.

hasn't returned yet

Highlights the absence of a return using perfect tense.

not here yet

Focuses on the present absence of someone or something.

still unavailable

Indicates that something is not yet accessible or ready.

not recovered yet

Specifies that recovery is still in progress.

not restored yet

Implies that something is not yet brought back to its original condition.

yet to return

Formal way of saying that someone/something has not returned.

remains absent

Highlights the continuing state of being away.

not ready yet

Indicates that something is in preparation and is not yet finished.

not finalized yet

Emphasizes that a process or decision is still pending.

FAQs

How can I use "not back yet" in a sentence?

You can use "not back yet" to indicate that someone or something has not returned at the time of speaking. For example, "My test results are "not back yet", so I can't make a decision."

What's a more formal way to say "not back yet"?

A more formal alternative to "not back yet" is "hasn't returned yet" or "yet to return".

Can "not back yet" be used for both people and objects?

Yes, "not back yet" can refer to both people and objects. For example, "John is "not back yet" from his trip" (person) and "The book I lent you is "not back yet"" (object).

Is it grammatically correct to say "not back yet"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct and widely used in both spoken and written English to indicate that someone or something has not returned by the current time.