yell

1 of 2

verb

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
2
: a usually rhythmic cheer used especially in schools or colleges to encourage athletic teams

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Related Stories Man Attacked by Shark at Popular Seaside Jetty Woman Killed in Florida Alligator Attack That Husband Tried to Fight Off After attempting to yell at the coyote to scare it off, the coyote continued to bite him. Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 20 May 2025 About 30 minutes later, Combs arrived, yelling and banging on the door with a hammer, Morgan testified. Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 19 May 2025
Noun
Miller popped back up with both fists pumping and let out a yell. Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 9 May 2025 At the first yell a challenging roar went up from the big killer, followed by an immediate hush. Cyril E. Holland, Outdoor Life, 8 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for yell

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of yell was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Yell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yell. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

yell

1 of 2 verb
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
2
: a cheer used especially in schools or colleges to encourage athletic teams

More from Merriam-Webster on yell

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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