ay
1 Americanadverb
interjection
adverb
interjection
Etymology
Origin of ay1
1150–1200; Middle English ei, ai < Scandinavian; compare Old Norse ei, cognate with Old English ā ever
Origin of ay2
Middle English word dating back to 1300–50
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Does the line finish with an "ay," an "ah", or an "oh"?
From BBC • Jan. 2, 2024
A tale of heartbreak or betrayal is likely to be punctuated by hoots of laughter or mocking cries of ay!
From New York Times • Jun. 22, 2023
NOTES: Semifinals, Thursday, 4 p.m. ay higher seeds.
From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2023
Garcia said he was unaware of the ruling, which could bar him from ay European events he was hoping to play.
From Seattle Times • Apr. 6, 2023
“He’s Mapper. But ay, how we gonna bust up into that place, get past the guards, through that gigantic door, find our friends, and get ’em out?”
From "Dactyl Hill Squad" by Daniel José Older
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
