yelp

1 of 2

noun

: 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

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
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.
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 See All Example Sentences for yelp

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of yelp was in 1501

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Yelp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yelp. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

yelp

1 of 2 noun
: 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"

More from Merriam-Webster on yelp

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!