yay

¹ American  

[yey] / jeɪ /

interjection

Informal.

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

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yay ² American  

[yey] / jeɪ /

Or yea

adverb

Informal.

1. to the extent, amount, etc., indicated.

   The doll is about yay high.

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yay British  

/ jeɪ /

interjection

1. informal an exclamation indicating approval, congratulation, or triumph

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Etymology

Origin of yay¹

First recorded in 1960–65; perhaps alteration of yeah

Origin of yay²

Probably < yea

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

yay

I hadn't thought about it till it came out in the press, so yay, yay for me.

From Barron's ● Jan. 17, 2026

It will kind of never end from here in ways, so you know, yay?

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 19, 2025

It’s saying, “Oh, yay, I get to flunk another math test this week,” when what you mean is that you are freaked out about your consistently terrible grades in math class.

From Salon ● Nov. 29, 2024

A final proposal is expected to be put to them and it was a "yay or nay" time, a DUP source told BBC NI.

From BBC ● Jan. 19, 2024

Wolf Ma ing an Mahigan Tshee o nay Noo nee yay.

From Notes of a Twenty-Five Years' Service in the Hudson's Bay Territory Volume II. by John M'lean