yelp

1 of 2

noun

ˈyelp 

: a sharp shrill bark or cry (as of a dog or turkey)

also : squeal

yelp

2 of 2

verb

yelped; yelping; yelps

intransitive verb

: to utter a sharp quick shrill cry

dogs yelp

transitive verb

: to utter with a yelp

Synonyms

Verb

• shriek
• scream
• squeal

Examples of yelp in a Sentence

Verb

The dog yelped in pain.

yelped with surprise when everything fell off the closet shelf and onto his head

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

When Yuvi Agarwal began playing keyboard for a room full of dogs at the Denver Animal Shelter on Thursday, the music was hard to distinguish between the barks and yelps of his audience. —Katie Langford, Denver Post, 30 May 2025

Yungblud’s voice — a piercing yelp that exists somewhere between Gerard Way’s wail and Brian Molko’s sneer — slotted him in the alt-rock world, but his aspirations seemed to stretch far beyond that categorization. —Maura Johnston, Rolling Stone, 21 June 2025

Verb

The dog yelped and ran back inside Withers’ condo before dying from its wounds. —Laura A. Bischoff, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025

In one viral video, an officer appears to aim and take fire at Australian reporter Lauren Tomasi, who yelped in pain when she was hit in the leg. —Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 11 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English, to boast, cry out, from Old English gielpan to boast, exult; akin to Old High German gelph outcry

First Known Use

Noun

1501, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1553, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing yelp

• give/make a yelp

Rhymes for yelp

• help
• kelp
• skelp
• whelp

Kids Definition

yelp

1 of 2 noun

ˈyelp 

: a sharp quick shrill bark or cry

the yelps of turkeys

yelp

2 of 2 verb

: to utter a yelp or a similar sound

he yelped in pain

heard the dog yelping again

yelper noun

Etymology

Noun

Middle English yelpen "to boast, cry out," from Old English gielpan "to boast, exult"