yelp
Americanverb (used without object)
-
yelps,
present (3rd person singular)
-
yelped,
past participle, past
-
yelping
present participle
-
to give a quick, sharp, shrill cry, as a dog or fox.
-
to call or cry out sharply.
The boy yelped in pain when the horse stepped on his foot.
verb (used with object)
-
yelps,
present (3rd person singular)
-
yelped,
past participle, past
-
yelping
present participle
noun
-
yelps
plural
verb
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
yelpsimple
-
yelpssimple
-
have yelpedperfect
-
has yelpedperfect
-
am yelpingprogressive
-
are yelpingprogressive
-
is yelpingprogressive
-
have been yelpingperfect progressive
-
has been yelpingperfect progressive
Past
-
yelpedsimple
-
had yelpedperfect
-
was yelpingprogressive
-
were yelpingprogressive
-
had been yelpingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of yelp
before 900; (v.) Middle English yelpen, Old English gielpan to boast; cognate with Low German galpen to croak; (noun) Middle English: boasting, Old English gielp, derivative of the v.
Explanation
A yelp is a loud cry of pain, like what you’d hear after you step on a dog’s tail by accident. It was an accident, right? The root of yelp is the Old English word gielp, which means “boast.” Clearly the meaning has changed over time, since yelping is nothing to boast about, as it usually involves pain of some kind. The word works as a noun and a verb, so you could say “I can hear a dog yelping,” or “The dog’s yelps kept me up all night.” You could also pet your dog a lot, which will help with the yelps.
Vocabulary lists containing yelp
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"Mending Wall," by Robert Frost
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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:
It was now a cold, silent night, broken only by snores, the occasional yelp of someone dreaming, and the hoot of a single owl.
From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2025
The album showcases the most expressive singing Fender has put on record, not least in the gorgeous “Arm’s Length,” where he dials back his desperate yelp to find a soulful new register.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 9, 2025
But for that moment we sang together, a collective yelp of determination to keep dancing.
From Salon ● Oct. 16, 2024
He also stopped his friend from a possible breakaway, though he let out a loud yelp of frustration when he missed a pass to a teammate that could have led to a goal.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 12, 2024
It gave a miserable yelp, and Matthias seemed to shudder at the sound.
From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo
This provoked yelps from technocrats who said it was impractical and superfluous.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 18, 2025
“What counts is that the combinations of music and words and yelps strike nerves,” he added.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 18, 2025
Now, I get it, stuffed cabbage isn’t going to prompt yelps of excitement.
From Salon ● Apr. 28, 2024
The third movement has bits of sumptuous playfulness, punctuated by yelps of brass.
From New York Times ● Jan. 6, 2023
Dogs were barking up and down the valley, a battery of yips and yelps and howls.
From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam
“Ow,” Ayden yelped, cartoons playing in the background.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 22, 2026
Or, as Doc Brown might have yelped, changes could have disastrous consequences.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2025
She yelped out and jumped up and down and attentively watched the speech.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 10, 2024
He yelped at the microphone as though it was about to attack him, then he lilted, eyes closed, like a crooner.
From BBC ● Dec. 2, 2023
Mr. Monroe yelped as he opened the refrigerator door.
From "Bunnicula" by Deborah Howe and James Howe
And I like the people yelping “This is golf, not the UFC!” as if a mixed martial arts crowd would somehow be worse.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2025
Huw Jones said he heard a strange yelping noise coming from part of his land.
From BBC ● Feb. 6, 2024
However, the researchers also noted more signs of stress in the e-collar group, including yawning and, in some dogs, yelping.
From Salon ● Sep. 25, 2022
The New York Times once described it as “shimmering and yelping and borderline whimsical,” and the song was nominated for a Grammy in 2016.
From New York Times ● Oct. 29, 2021
The tyrannosaurus had seen it, was already yelping and crouching out of the way.
From "Dactyl Hill Squad" by Daniel José Older
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.
