yay

[ yey ]

/ yeɪ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR yay ON THESAURUS.COM

interjection Informal.

(an exclamation used to express joy, excitement, etc.)

Nearby words

Origin of yay

First recorded in 1960–65; perhaps alteration of yeah

yay

or yea

[ yey ]

/ yeɪ /

adverb Informal.

to the extent, amount, etc., indicated: The doll is about yay high.

Origin of yay

probably < yea¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for yay

Yay Haley for quick thinking and Bronagh for quick status updating!
A Tale of Thanksgiving Triumph|Michael Daly|November 28, 2013|DAILY BEAST
But for The Hangover Part III, basically Todd just emailed me and said I was in it, and I was like, “Yay!”
Heather Graham on ‘The Hangover Part III,’ Roles for Women, and More|Marlow Stern|May 24, 2013|DAILY BEAST
If we did this, the policy costs for likely criminals would go up--yay!
Should People Be Forced to Buy Liability Insurance for their Guns?|Megan McArdle|December 28, 2012|DAILY BEAST
"Yay; I hear both on ye," said the gentle old mother with a half smile.
Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science|Various

At this moment a shout was heard from the alley, "Yay, Penrod!"
The Boy Scouts Book of Stories|Various
Then the yay showed him the shortest road to take and bade him return to his people.
The Mountain Chant, A Navajo Ceremony|Washington Matthews
“Yay,” sed the Shaker, and he led the way into the house, another Shaker bein sent to put my hosses and waggin under kiver.
Why Lincoln Laughed|Russell Herman Conwell
The yay spoke not a word, but pointed down into the valley and led the way thither.
The Mountain Chant, A Navajo Ceremony|Washington Matthews

British Dictionary definitions for yay

yay

/ (jeɪ) /

interjection

informal an exclamation indicating approval, congratulation, or triumph

Word Origin for yay

C20: perhaps from yeah

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for yay

yay

"this," as in yay big "this big," 1950s, perhaps from yea "yes" in its sense of "even, truly, verily." "a sort of demonstrative adverb used with adjectives of size, height, extent, etc., and often accompanied by a hand gesture indicating size" [DAS].

yay

interjection Informal.

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Nearby words

Origin of yay

yay

or yea

adverb Informal.

Origin of yay

Examples from the Web for yay

yay

interjection

Word Origin for yay

yay