yank

1 of 3

verb

ˈyaŋk 

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

yank

2 of 3

noun (1)

: a strong sudden pull : jerk

Yank

3 of 3

noun (2)

ˈyaŋk 

: yankee

Synonyms of yank

Verb

• jerk
• pull
• twitch
• grab
• lurch
• tug

Noun (1)

• pull
• tug

Examples of yank in a Sentence

Verb

He yanked the door shut.

She yanked on the dog's leash.

Noun (1)

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Once the drop trap — a simple wire cage triggered by yanking on a cord — is set up with an enticing mix of sardines and shards of roast chicken on a cardboard tray inside, everyone moves out of sight behind massive logs a few yards away. — Adam Tschorn, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Hours later, as the couple sat in a car outside a west Fort Worth bowling alley, an unknown man yanked open the passenger door. — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Sep. 2026

Noun

Visitors to China will want to lighten their grip, while folks introducing themselves to Germans should know to stop after one firm downward yank. — Chris Ciolli, AFAR Media, 15 July 2025

Running on a level surface (in supportive shoes—see above!) can serve as plenty a cardio workout without the extra yank on your plantar fascia. — Erica Sloan, SELF, 20 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

origin unknown

First Known Use

Verb

1822, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun (1)

circa 1864, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1778, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing yank

• pull/yank someone's chain

Rhymes for yank

• banc
• bank
• blank
• clank
• crank
• dank
• drank
• flank
• franc
• hank
• lank
• plank

Kids Definition

yank

1 of 3 noun

ˈyaŋk 

: a strong sudden pull : jerk

yank

2 of 3 verb

: to pull suddenly or forcefully

Yank

3 of 3 noun

ˈyaŋk 

: yankee