yell

[yel]

verb (used without object)

1. to cry out or speak with a strong, loud, clear sound; shout.

   He always yells when he is angry.

2. to scream with pain, fright, etc.

verb (used with object)

1. to utter or tell by yelling.

   to yell an order to the troops.

noun

1. a cry uttered by yelling.

2. a cheer or shout of fixed words or syllables, as one adopted by a school or college to encourage a team.

yell

/ jɛl /

verb

1. to shout, scream, cheer, or utter in a loud or piercing way

noun

1. a loud piercing inarticulate cry, as of pain, anger, or fear

2. a rhythmic cry of words or syllables, used in cheering in unison

Other Word Forms

• outyell verb (used with object)
• yeller noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of yell¹

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” ( nightingale ); noun derivative of the verb

Word History and Origins

Origin of yell¹

Old English giellan; related to Old Saxon gellon, Old High German gellan, Old Norse gjalla; see _nightingale

Example Sentences

Body camera from one of the officers, also released Tuesday by the department, shows the crash occurred just outside a carnival, where witnesses began to yell and urge officers to do something.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The 72-year-old yelled for whoever was at the door to hold on as he put a robe over his underwear and walked slowly across his South Memphis apartment.

Read more on Salon

During the game at Minnesota, fans yelled, “Who is No. 12?”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“What do you mean you can’t fire a rifle?” the man yelled.

Read more on Literature

I yelled for Joyce to grab a fire extinguisher and ripped off my towel to smother the blaze.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• hoot 
• howl 
• screech 
• shriek 
• squawk 
• squeal 
• wail 
• whoop 
• yelp