yell

[yel]

verb (used without object)

1. to cry out or speak with a strong, loud, clear sound; shout.

   He always yells when he is angry.

2. to scream with pain, fright, etc.

verb (used with object)

1. to utter or tell by yelling.

   to yell an order to the troops.

noun

1. a cry uttered by yelling.

2. a cheer or shout of fixed words or syllables, as one adopted by a school or college to encourage a team.

yell

/ jɛl /

verb

1. to shout, scream, cheer, or utter in a loud or piercing way

noun

1. a loud piercing inarticulate cry, as of pain, anger, or fear

2. a rhythmic cry of words or syllables, used in cheering in unison

Other Word Forms

• outyell verb (used with object)
• yeller noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of yell¹

First recorded before 1000; (for the verb) Middle English yellen, Old English gellan, giellan; cognate with German gellen to resound, Dutch gillen; akin to Old English galan “to sing” ( nightingale ); noun derivative of the verb

Word History and Origins

Origin of yell¹

Old English giellan; related to Old Saxon gellon, Old High German gellan, Old Norse gjalla; see _nightingale

Example Sentences

Skate dads in L.A. will yell unintelligibly at you as they whoosh by, and when you don’t respond they’ll spend the rest of the session snaking you at every turn.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

A woman yelled, “How about we trade cars?”

Read more on Wall Street Journal

He doesn’t yell as loud as the others, but even his posture is intimidating.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“I’m not a U.S. citizen!” the guy yells, daring someone to detain him.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"Get back in your pen, pig!" yelled the man, as flannel-wearing bike commuters stopped by to observe the scene.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• hoot 
• howl 
• screech 
• shriek 
• squawk 
• squeal 
• wail 
• whoop 
• yelp