yell

1 of 2

verb

ˈyel 

yelled; yelling; yells

intransitive verb

1

: to utter a loud cry, scream, or shout

2

: to give a cheer usually in unison

transitive verb

: to utter or declare with or as if with a yell : shout

yeller noun

yell

2 of 2

noun

1

: scream, shout

2

: a usually rhythmic cheer used especially in schools or colleges to encourage athletic teams

Synonyms of yell

Verb

• scream
• shriek
• squeal

Noun

• shout
• howl
• cry
• scream

Examples of yell in a Sentence

Verb

We saw people yelling for help.

I heard someone yelling my name.

The crowd was yelling wildly.

Noun

the crowd gave a yell of approval

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

As officers yell for Martinez to stop, Stevens pulls his weapon and rapidly fires three shots through the window before quickly backing away. —Arkansas Online, 8 Mar. 2026

Gooding yells giddily, triumphantly jumping and fist-pumping the air. —Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 8 Mar. 2026

Noun

Dallas Lincoln guard Lanae Dallas (2), left, lets out a yell after she was announced as the Most Valuable player following Lincoln's 77-49 victory over Fredericksburg to claim the Class 4A state championship. —Dallas Morning News, 7 Mar. 2026

Elated yells echoed through the halls of the Werth Family Champions Center on Wednesday afternoon as the UConn women’s basketball team concluded practice, bursts of celebration exploding as though players were hitting championship game winners every couple of minutes. —Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 25 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English yellen, going back to Old English giellan, gyllan, going back to Germanic *gellan- (whence also Old High German kellen, gellen "to make a shrill sound," Old Norse gjalla "to scream"), perhaps a back-formation from *gullōn-, iterative derivative of *galan- "to sing, cry" — more at nightingale

Noun

Middle English yel, yelle, derivative of yellen "to yell entry 1"

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing yell

• give (someone) a yell
• rebel yell
• yell your head off

Rhymes for yell

• bel
• belle
• cel
• cell
• dell
• dwell
• el
• ell
• fel
• fell
• gel
• gell

Kids Definition

yell

1 of 2 verb

ˈyel 

1

: to utter a loud cry, scream, or shout

2

: to give a cheer usually as part of a crowd

yeller noun

yell

2 of 2 noun

1

: scream entry 2 sense 1, shout

2

: a cheer used especially in schools or colleges to encourage athletic teams