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

Characters yell confessions and spew insults from across rooms and tables. —Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Mar. 2025

Outside the Latvian Cultural Center, Fisk yells at Sheila - who hasn't revealed Daniel's part in the leak - about the news, demanding an all-hands meeting to find out who leaked the story. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 19 Mar. 2025

Noun

So if some is a scream or a yell, all the facial expressions become hardened. —Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2025

This led Jeff Bezos to openly ask who the next James Bond should be, and far and away there was an answer shouted with a deafening yell: Henry Cavill. —Paul Tassi, Forbes, 21 Feb. 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