yellow

adjective yel·low \ ˈye-(ˌ)lō , dialectal ˈye-lər or ˈya- \

Updated on: 14 Apr 2018

Definition of yellow

1 a : of the color yellow

b : become yellowish through age, disease, or discoloration : sallow

c sometimes offensive : having a yellowish or light brown complexion or skin

2 a : featuring sensational or scandalous items or ordinary news sensationally distorted

yellow journalism

b : mean, cowardly

—

yellowish

play \ˈye-lə-wish\ adjective

See yellow defined for English-language learners

See yellow defined for kids

Examples of yellow in a Sentence

He was too yellow to stand up and fight.
you'll come with us into the cave, unless you're yellow

Recent Examples of yellow from the Web

The look features bright coral eyeshadow covering the eyelid, a fuchsia shade in the crease, and a swipe of fluorescent yellow eyeliner on the outside half of the eye and right under the brow.

— andrea park, Teen Vogue, "Makeup Artist Accuses Real Techniques of Copying a Look She Created Without Permission," 20 July 2017
In addition to selling yellow mustard and hot sauce, the division makes ketchup, onion flavorings and other products.

— nick turner, Bloomberg.com, "McCormick Buys Reckitt Benckiser Food Unit for $4.2 Billion," 19 July 2017
Three prominent Austin chefs teamed up with the Youngblood family to build a new restaurant from scratch that looks like a legacy chicken dinner house, down to the bright blue-and-yellow colors and the helpings of hot yeast rolls with honey.

— bud kennedy, star-telegram, "Three local restaurant comeback stories, starting with Youngblood’s fried chicken," 19 July 2017
Majeski pulled off with two laps remaining during the final yellow flag situation.

— tony baranek, Daily Southtown, "Ricky Baker holds his ground in wild ARCA Wayne Carter Classic victory," 16 July 2017
Either red or yellow maca will work here, but the flavor of the red is more mild.

— anya tchoupakov, Bon Appetit, "25 Healthy Breakfast Recipes Because Who Knows How the Rest of the Day Will Go," 12 July 2017
The group recently wore matching black polos with yellow piping from the British brand, like some sort of unofficial uniform.

— christine flammia, Esquire, "Fred Perry Wants Nothing to Do With Its Alt-Right Fanboys," 10 July 2017
Layered yellow atop thick green strokes conjure up a bouquet without providing any detail.

— anne kniggendorf, kansascity.com, "First Friday gallery guide: Five shows to see," 3 July 2017
Ebony, 32, slipped the voucher back into its bright yellow folder and waited.

— alden woods, azcentral, "60 days to find a home: Lack of affordable housing forces renters to settle," 2 July 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of yellow

Middle English yelwe, yelow, from Old English geolu; akin to Old High German gelo yellow, Latin helvus light bay, Greek chlōros greenish yellow, Sanskrit hari yellowish

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

yellow Synonyms

Other Color Terms

argentine, cerise, cerulean, cyan, ocher, perse, puce, taupe, vermilion

yellow

noun

Definition of yellow

1 : something yellow or marked by a yellow color: such as

a sometimes offensive : a person having yellowish or light brown skin

b : the yolk of an egg

2 a : a color whose hue resembles that of ripe lemons or sunflowers or is that of the portion of the spectrum lying between green and orange

b : a pigment or dye that colors yellow

3 yellows plural : jaundice

4 yellows plural in form but singular in construction : any of several plant diseases caused especially by phytoplasmas and marked by yellowing of the foliage and stunting

See yellow defined for English-language learners

Examples of yellow in a Sentence

The bridesmaids were dressed in yellow.
a room decorated in yellows and greens

Recent Examples of yellow from the Web

Capital Bikeshare, the popular Washington-area bicycle program, may get a corporate sponsor and advertising on the iconic red-and-yellow bikes next year.

— patricia sullivan, Washington Post, "Advertising may be coming to Capital Bikeshare bikes," 20 June 2017
Living Room Suites use bold combinations of deep yellow and navy blue.

— gabe hartwig, chicagotribune.com, "3 Memphis getaways: rock star, rustic or refined," 9 June 2017
There isn’t even a cross walk or a speed bump or a caution sign or a flashing yellow; there is nothing but blacktop for miles.

— neil senturia, sandiegouniontribune.com, "How about a Tinder for start-ups in San Diego?," 5 June 2017
CENTRALIA — Men, women and children, all wearing yellow numbered Army identification tags, gathered at the Chehalis Train Depot on June 2, 1942.

— graham perednia, The Seattle Times, "‘Most lost everything they had’: Centralia museum honors interned Japanese-Americans," 3 June 2017
Three other sterile barberry varieties that are being grown by wholesalers for later sale are a super compact cultivar with yellow foliage, and two compact shrubs, one with yellow and the other with green foliage.

— theresa sullivan barger, courant.com, "UConn Horticulturists Creating Sterile Versions Of Invasive Shrubs," 1 June 2017
The gleaming fleet of green-and-yellow John Deere tractors is still driven by Chinese workers, while almost two-thirds of Gaza's population lives in poverty.

— Bloomberg.com, "China Spins a Global Food Web From Mozambique to Missouri," 22 May 2017
A video posted last month of Xiaoman biting off tender morsels of yellow...

— kathy chu, WSJ, "How a Toddler Who Loves Eating Transfixed China," 21 May 2017
Dwyer is suspended for the match after receiving his fifth yellow card of the season — most in MLS — in last weekend’s loss to Minnesota.

— sam mcdowell, kansascity.com, "Dom Dwyer’s suspension highlights the need for Sporting KC to develop a reliable backup," 12 May 2017

Other Color Terms

argentine, cerise, cerulean, cyan, ocher, perse, puce, taupe, vermilion

yellow

verb

Definition of yellow

intransitive verb

: to become or turn yellow

transitive verb

: to make yellow : give a yellow tinge or color to

yellowed by time

See yellow defined for English-language learners

Examples of yellow in a Sentence

The paper had yellowed with age.
The leaves were yellowed by disease.

Recent Examples of yellow from the Web

Remove yellowing foliage and flowers; repot indoor plants as needed. 78.

— tom maccubbin, OrlandoSentinel.com, "April in the garden," 31 Mar. 2018
Their leaves tend to yellow easily and fall off, making the trademark flower of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum a nightmare for its longtime horticulturist, Stan Kozak.

— cindy atoji keene, BostonGlobe.com, "The Gardner museum’s gardener reveals how its courtyard stays in bloom," 29 Mar. 2018
Plants should be healthy with new growth and no signs of wilting or yellowing older leaves.

— neil sperry, star-telegram, "It's easy to get carried away buying plants, but do this prep work first | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 22 Mar. 2018
Two weeks before prom, swap your regular toothpaste for a whitening one that removes surface stains and protects your teeth from further yellowing.

— seventeen.com editors, Seventeen, "50 Life-Changing Prom Beauty Tips You Haven't Heard Before," 26 Jan. 2018
Bids for the now-yellowed and flattened paper cup surpassed $1,750 on eBay by Friday afternoon.

— CBS News, "Auction bids surpass $1,700 for paper cup allegedly used by Elvis Presley," 19 Jan. 2018
Of course, Mini still has the toggle switches for various functions, although the hybrid switches to yellow for the ignition.

— emma jayne williams, star-telegram, "Mini electrifies the Countryman, with plug-in hybrid drive system | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 13 Jan. 2018
Framed sports memorabilia, from Saints jerseys to boxing robes, fill the walls, along with yellowing clips about Kosher Cajun and the local Jewish community.

— todd a. price, NOLA.com, "Kosher Cajun Deli in Metairie feeds the hunger of a community," 18 Dec. 2017
Sprinkled throughout their new home in Washington are reminders of her life — a photo of the five Parkers surrounded by yellowing New England foliage, a frame Alissa made to display Emilie’s artwork.

— hartford courant, courant.com, "Five Years After Sandy Hook, Emilie Parker's Family Finds Joy, Solace," 14 Dec. 2017

YELLOW Defined for English Language Learners

yellow

adjective

Definition of yellow for English Language Learners

: having the color of the sun or of ripe lemons
: afraid in a way that makes you unable to do what is right or expected
: containing news that is meant to shock people and that is not true or is only partly true

yellow

noun

Definition of yellow for English Language Learners

: the color of the sun or of ripe lemons

yellow

verb

Definition of yellow for English Language Learners

: to become yellow or to cause (something) to become yellow

YELLOW Defined for Kids

yellow

adjective yel·low \ ˈye-lō \

Definition of yellow for Students

1 : of the color of a lemon : colored yellow

a yellow raincoat

2 : cowardly 1

yellow

noun

Definition of yellow for Students

1 : the color of a lemon

2 : something (as the yolk of an egg) yellow in color

yellow

verb

Definition of yellow for Students

yellowed; yellowing

: to turn yellow

Learn More about yellow

See words that rhyme with yellow Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for yellow Spanish Central: Translation of yellow Nglish: Translation of yellow for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of yellow for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about yellow

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up yellow? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

yellow

Definition of yellow

yellowish

Examples of yellow in a Sentence

Recent Examples of yellow from the Web

Origin and Etymology of yellow

yellow Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Other Color Terms

yellow

Definition of yellow

Examples of yellow in a Sentence

Recent Examples of yellow from the Web

Other Color Terms

yellow

Definition of yellow

Examples of yellow in a Sentence

Recent Examples of yellow from the Web

Phrases Related to YELLOW

Related Phrases

YELLOW Defined for English Language Learners

yellow

Definition of yellow for English Language Learners

yellow

Definition of yellow for English Language Learners

yellow

Definition of yellow for English Language Learners

YELLOW Defined for Kids

yellow

Definition of yellow for Students

yellow

Definition of yellow for Students

yellow

Definition of yellow for Students

Learn More about yellow

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

Trending: 'Venom' Trailer Drives Searches for 'Symbiote'

'Complement' vs. 'Compliment'

Going Greek: 7 Words from the Greek Alphabet

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes