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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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:
Frequently, the volunteers who get zapped yelp as they collapse limply down on a soft mat.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
On 13 April, fans are being encouraged to "dress up, whoop, yelp and clap their way through this block-busting adventure".
From BBC ● Apr. 8, 2025
But for that moment we sang together, a collective yelp of determination to keep dancing.
From Salon ● Oct. 16, 2024
Border Patrol vehicle, botanist Sula Vanderplank heard a quail in the scrub yelp “chi-ca-go,” a sound the birds use to signal they are separated from a mate or group.
From Seattle Times ● May 18, 2024
Liam crawled toward her, earning another yelp out of Chubs as he kicked his leg.
From "The Darkest Minds" by Alexandra Bracken
“Nebraska” is a minimalist tableau of sin, a chilling void punctuated with coyote yelps and lonely harmonica solos.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 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
Teenagers let out delighted yelps as they slipped on the ice of a nearby skating rink.
From New York Times ● Feb. 5, 2023
Skardebek filled the air with angry warning yelps.
From "The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge" by M.T. Anderson and Eugene Yelchin
“Ow,” Ayden yelped, cartoons playing in the background.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 22, 2026
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
Rex and the other dogs barked, yelped and whined during the ceremony, more eager to play for each other than get their badges as they tugged at their handlers’ leashes.
From Washington Times ● Jul. 13, 2023
Henry, a first-time nominee, stood at his table, raised an arm in the air and yelped when his name was called.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 13, 2023
It took her a couple tries to get it, but once she did, she yelped in excitement and held the magnet over the washers.
From "The Science of Breakable Things" by Tae Keller
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
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
His pug, Roady, roams the property yelping at other dogs.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2021
A yelping Joanie has jumped up and thudded against her guitar, trying to snuggle into her lap.
From New York Times ● Jul. 16, 2021
The dog, still yelping, was circling the girls, who huddled together in the middle of the room.
From "Typical American" by Gish Jen
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.
