yell
Americanverb (used without object)
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yells,
present (3rd person singular)
-
yelled,
past participle, past
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yelling
present participle
-
to cry out or speak with a strong, loud, clear sound; shout.
He always yells when he is angry.
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to scream with pain, fright, etc.
verb (used with object)
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yells,
present (3rd person singular)
-
yelled,
past participle, past
-
yelling
present participle
noun
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yells
plural
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a cry uttered by yelling.
-
a cheer or shout of fixed words or syllables, as one adopted by a school or college to encourage a team.
verb
noun
-
a loud piercing inarticulate cry, as of pain, anger, or fear
-
a rhythmic cry of words or syllables, used in cheering in unison
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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yellsimple
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yellssimple
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have yelledperfect
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has yelledperfect
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am yellingprogressive
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are yellingprogressive
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is yellingprogressive
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have been yellingperfect progressive
-
has been yellingperfect progressive
Past
-
yelledsimple
-
had yelledperfect
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was yellingprogressive
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were yellingprogressive
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had been yellingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of yell
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” ( see nightingale); noun derivative of the verb
Explanation
To yell is to call or cry out loudly. You might yell across a loud cafeteria to get your friend's attention, or yell at your sister for borrowing your favorite sweater. Use the word yell as a verb or noun to describe the noise someone makes when they holler or shout. You can yell with enthusiasm, the way a crowd at a sporting event does, or in anger, like an irate driver yelling out the car window. A yell can express surprise, fury, or delight — but it's always loud. The Old English root is galan, "to sing."
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.
See Examples For:
When Wilson attempted to help Hill to his feet, the official jumped up and appeared to yell at the player and point for him to move away.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 5, 2026
So there are different ways to fight, and here’s what I’d say to a lot of people: If somebody’s yelling, and you yell back, then nobody can hear a thing.
From Salon ● Sep. 30, 2026
Fans took that as a challenge to yell louder.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026
Weigh those cons against the things AI has reliably proven it can do – cheat on homework and write janky code – and it’s easy to understand Sanders’ urge to stand and yell “stop!”
From Salon ● Aug. 12, 2026
I turned to yell something back, but before I could open my mouth, she giggled and disappeared in the house.
From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls
“I think you guys all know my nickname is Juice. I have Juice on my pads. The stadium yells ‘Juice!’ when I catch the ball.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
To wit, a man catcalls her as she walks past and she yells, “I object!”
From Salon ● Jul. 6, 2026
“Class of 1975,” yells someone from the crowd.
From Slate ● Jun. 24, 2026
“No, if you guys were offering to help, I don’t want your help,” she yells at them in a video released by the department.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 29, 2026
“I know because Aunt Goldie never yells at Peach or makes him behave!”
From Each Little Bird That Sings by Deborah Wiles
A fan appeared to throw a water bottle at the glass window, while others yelled and displayed their own middle fingers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 5, 2026
As they yelled to their colleague about a marketing presentation, a man at a nearby bench checked in with his girlfriend—also on speakerphone.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026
When the topic turned to the data center, he yelled, “You ever hear of Chernobyl?!”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
“You remember, don’t you, Mr. Cosby?” she yelled across the courtroom.
From Salon ● Apr. 27, 2018
She yelled out to two trolls who were just about my size, “Gorp! Grot! Out of the stream and into the mud!”
From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff
“Gold!” he kept yelling, “Gold from the American River!”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
Instead, keep a safe distance, back away slowly, and let the bear know you are there by making yourself look bigger and yelling or clapping.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 26, 2026
Attorney Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch told CBS that Garcés Perez called his wife while "yelling in pain" in hospital.
From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026
A 10-second video of the press yelling at McConnell to speak or give a thumbs up — with seemingly zero response from the senator — has gone viral.
From Salon ● Sep. 17, 2026
Wind, water rushing up the sand, kids yelling on the trail behind us, people laughing.
From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila
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.
