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

Example Sentences

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

For every chest pound from Bryan Baker, glove slap from Cionel Pérez or enthusiastic yelp from either, Tate offers a stone face.

Nathan Ruiz, Baltimore Sun, 4 Oct. 2022 Two decades ago, the trio of Karen O, Nick Zinner, and Brian Chase were leaders of New York’s downtown post-punk revival scene, taking on the malaise that hung over the early ‘00s with slashing riffs and yelp-along lyrics.

Maura Johnston, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2022 Wagging her tail, Lua bent down to investigate—then jumped straight up in the air, letting out a yelp.

Jim Carlton, WSJ, 16 Aug. 2022 The figure lets out a quick yelp and scurries back into the store.

Lauren Morgan, EW.com, 20 July 2022 All of a sudden, Bowie did a giant backflip while letting out an awful yelp.

Wes Siler, Outside Online, 17 July 2021 Taj made a childish yelp, paddled back out, and the two traded three-foot tubes for the next hour.

Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 13 Dec. 2021 The distinctive yelp of R&B singer Holloway is pronounced throughout this chugging hit.

Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 31 Oct. 2021 Dirty Honey is built from LaBelle’s soulful yelp and the lean electric ruckus guitarist John Notto, drummer Corey Coverstone and bassist Justin Smolian kick up.

Matt Wake | Mwake@al.com, al, 1 June 2021

Verb

As Thrillist reported in 2017, the social media age and the desire of patrons to yelp their every move makes the modern-day speakeasy’s success a delicate balance.

Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 17 Aug. 2022 The audience members are quiet, attentive, respectful (moviegoers might yelp); for his part, Saul looks ecstatic.

New York Times, 2 June 2022 Right-wingers who constantly yelp about the need for congressional and legislative term limits would instantly oppose the idea for a conservative court.

Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2022 There are some people that just can't dance, some people that can't sing (even in the shower), and some people that can't cluck, cut, and yelp like a turkey.

Will Brantley, Field & Stream, 24 Nov. 2020 The Frames get their Internet connection from your smartphone over Bluetooth, which sometimes flakes out, leaving Alexa to yelp that it is disconnected.

Washington Post, 4 Aug. 2020 His call-and-response to Fritz, the absurd blond Labradoodle next door who yelps from the window of the first floor of the pale yellow colonial.

New York Times, 19 May 2020 In the sky, a police helicopter yelped in celebration.

Lily Altavena, azcentral, 17 May 2020 On a recent Friday evening, huddles of adults were exuberantly reliving childhood, yelping and hollering with joy on one of the busiest streets in Manhattan.

Aaron Randle, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2020 See More

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