yank

verb \ ˈyaŋk \

|Updated on: 9 Jun 2018

Examples: yank in a Sentence

Definition of yank

yanked; yanking; yanks

intransitive verb

: to pull on something with a quick vigorous movement

transitive verb

1 : to pull or extract with a quick vigorous movement

2 : to remove in or as if in an abrupt manner

yanked the story from the evening edition

See yank defined for English-language learners

Examples of yank in a Sentence

He yanked the door shut.
She yanked on the dog's leash.

Recent Examples of yank from the Web

This report should eliminate any doubt that Trump’s tax law yanked Medicare closer to insolvency.

— amy goldstein, Washington Post, "A crucial Medicare trust fund will run out three years earlier than predicted, new report says," 5 June 2018
The rookie had a start pushed back due to rain, was yanked from another due to a blister, and lost a few games to an ankle injury suffered in late April.

— alex putterman, The Atlantic, "Shohei Ohtani Is Proving Himself Already," 5 June 2018
Months after Agape Christian Academy was yanked from the state’s voucher programs, the private school in Pine Hills continues to flounder, racking up debt and struggling to keep the water and air-conditioning running.

— annie martin, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Without scholarship money, private school Agape continues to struggle," 29 May 2018
Mize came back out for the seventh inning but was yanked after a lead-off walk.

— anthony fenech, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit Tigers potential No. 1 pick Casey Mize dominant, doomed in 6th," 18 May 2018
The conservative movement rebelled against this, along with other practical aspects of Nixon’s domestic policy, and yanked the party to the right.

— jonathan chait, Daily Intelligencer, "Trump’s Environmental Agenda No Longer Pretending to Care About the Free Market," 14 May 2018
The only run the Rays scored off him came in the third inning when Denard Span singled with two outs, went to second when Gausman yanked a splitter for a wild pitch and scored on a fisted single by C.J. Cron.

— jon meoli, baltimoresun.com, "Kevin Gausman pitches 7 1/3 innings, helps Orioles earn season-best third straight win," 12 May 2018
XXXTentacion, who was also yanked from a number of Spotify playlists including the influential Rap Caviar, is a far younger act.

— gerrick d. kennedy, latimes.com, "R. Kelly and XXXTentacion camps react to Spotify removing their music from playlists," 10 May 2018
PetSmart announced that a Houston-area groomer was fired after a video showing the worker yanking a dog went viral.

— lisa marie segarra, Time, "PetSmart Groomer Fired After Video of Yanked Dog Goes Viral," 3 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'yank.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of yank

origin unknown

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1822

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

See Words from the same year

yank Synonyms

Synonyms

buck, hitch, jerk, jolt, twitch;

Related Words

bump, jounce, lurch, pitch, stagger;

jig, jiggle, jog, joggle, shake;

drag, lug, pull, tug;

pluck, tweak;

grab, rip, snap (up), snatch, tear, wrench, wrest, wring;

yank

noun

Definition of yank

: a strong sudden pull : jerk

See yank defined for English-language learners

See yank defined for kids

Examples of yank in a Sentence

had to give the shoe a good yank to get it off

Recent Examples of yank from the Web

View 39 Photos On the single gravel turn used at the Phoenix test track, a quick yank on the handbrake is all that’s needed to make the car turn-in.

— josh jacquot, Car and Driver, "Behind the Wheel of Subaru's WRX STI Global Rallycross Car," 20 Oct. 2017
Sweed gave him a little yank, not even hard, on the jersey.

— zach helfand, latimes.com, "USC-Texas revisited: LenDale White and what happened after fourth-and-two," 13 Sep. 2017
The pony-tail yank was captured by the jail’s security cameras.

— gwen filosa, miamiherald, "Inmate attacks inmate over their breakup, cops say," 1 June 2017

First Known Use of yank

circa 1864

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

yank Synonyms

Yank

noun \ ˈyaŋk \

Definition of Yank

: yankee

See Yank defined for English-language learners

See Yank defined for kids

First Known Use of yank

1778

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

YANK Defined for English Language Learners

yank

verb

Definition of yank for English Language Learners

: to suddenly pull (something) in a quick, forceful way
: to quickly or suddenly remove (something or someone)

yank

noun

Definition of yank for English Language Learners

: a strong, quick pull

Yank

noun

Definition of Yank for English Language Learners

: a person from the U.S.

YANK Defined for Kids

yank

noun \ ˈyaŋk \

Definition of yank for Students

: a strong sudden pull : jerk

yank

verb

Definition of yank for Students

yanked; yanking

: to pull suddenly or forcefully

I go over and yank his arm and make him sit down.
—Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, Shiloh

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See words that rhyme with yank Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for yank Spanish Central: Translation of yank Nglish: Translation of yank for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of yank for Arabic speakers

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yank

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Origin and Etymology of yank

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yank

Definition of yank

Examples of yank in a Sentence

Recent Examples of yank from the Web

First Known Use of yank

yank Synonyms

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Yank

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YANK Defined for English Language Learners

yank

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yank

Definition of yank for English Language Learners

Yank

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yank

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