yell
Americanverb (used without object)
-
yells,
present (3rd person singular)
-
yelled,
past participle, past
-
yelling
present participle
-
to cry out or speak with a strong, loud, clear sound; shout.
He always yells when he is angry.
-
to scream with pain, fright, etc.
verb (used with object)
-
yells,
present (3rd person singular)
-
yelled,
past participle, past
-
yelling
present participle
noun
-
yells
plural
-
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
-
yellsimple
-
yellssimple
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have yelledperfect
-
has yelledperfect
-
am yellingprogressive
-
are yellingprogressive
-
is yellingprogressive
-
have been yellingperfect progressive
-
has been yellingperfect progressive
Past
-
yelledsimple
-
had yelledperfect
-
was yellingprogressive
-
were yellingprogressive
-
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:
“The only consequence is that people might yell at me online.”
From Slate ● Oct. 15, 2026
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
Surely some of this is the doldrums of late summer and the lack of sports stuff to yell about.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 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
“Okay, but yell out the second things don’t feel right. Deal?”
From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas
“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
“Keep your jaw open,” someone yells, “it helps.”
From Salon ● Aug. 11, 2026
And because the cars can rotate 360 degrees, Universal can in theory direct rider yells away from the studio below and the neighborhood nearby.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026
“Class of 1975,” yells someone from the crowd.
From Slate ● Jun. 24, 2026
Gloria yells as she marches by with a broom in hand.
From "Zara’s Rules for Record-Breaking Fun" by Hena Khan
“You are burning your only bridge into Hollywood while you’re standing on it!” he yelled.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026
She said she had seen him frequently on the university grounds in front of her building and had an alarming encounter when he yelled at her in the street the prior week.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 23, 2026
And when I flipped him over my back for the first time and he landed like a sack of meat, David beamed and yelled in his best “Karate Kid” voice, “Finish meeee!!”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
“You remember, don’t you, Mr. Cosby?” she yelled across the courtroom.
From Salon ● Apr. 27, 2018
The director yelled, “Cut!” and the crew began setting up for the next scene.
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
“Even when everyone is yelling at me, people will hear what I’m saying.”
From Slate ● Oct. 15, 2026
Connor Thompson told the BBC's US partner CBS News that he was in line for the ride when everyone started "yelling, clearly distressed".
From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026
Davis told the task force, led by the LAPD, that they only noticed Knight and Shakur in the BMW because some women were yelling at the rapper.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026
“Gold!” he kept yelling, “Gold from the American River!”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
All four guards snapped to attention at my words and took off at a full sprint toward my house, yelling commands into their communicators as they took my story hook, line, and sinker.
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
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