yell

1 of 2

verb

ˈyel 

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

: scream, shout

2

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

Synonyms

Verb

• howl
• scream
• screech
• shriek
• shrill
• squall
• squeal
• yelp

Noun

• cry
• holler
• hoot
• howl
• shout
• whoop
• yowl

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

Verb

As O’Neil’s trailer for Slauson Rec indicates, the school had unconventional training methods; in one glimpse of the footage, the Honey Boy writer-star is seen yelling at students. —Jack Smart, People.com, 7 May 2025

Another student, under the same video, said that their entire class was merely yelled at for doing it. —Annabelle Canela, Parents, 7 May 2025

Noun

During the flight, Morgan said, a Texas man seated next to her, Cherian Abraham, 54, tried touching her multiple times, attempting to put his hand between her legs and ignoring her yells to stop, according to a report from affiliate FOX 32 Chicago. —Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2025

My yell must have startled him for a second or two, and my headlong rush kept him off balance just long enough. —Howard Copenhaver, Outdoor Life, 23 Apr. 2025

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

Phrases Containing yell

• give (someone) a yell
• rebel yell
• yell your head off

Rhymes for yell

• bel
• belle
• cel
• cell
• dell
• dwell
• el
• ell
• fel
• fell
• gel
• gell

Kids Definition

yell

1 of 2 verb

ˈyel 

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

: scream entry 2 sense 1, shout

2

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