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
Don’t be that guy who runs the same series of seven yelps all morning long. Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 1 May 2024 And the merry-go-round of yelps and vocal chops at its core gleam like Christmas morning. Pitchfork, 5 Dec. 2024
Verb
Yet there wasn’t some killer behind a mask or a scarred-up monster with a knife that caused James to yelp Christmas night in San Francisco. Austin Knoblauch, Los Angeles Times, 30 Dec. 2024 Fans yelped each time Marchand popped up during the breaststroke leg, willing him to go faster and farther with each cheer. Nicole Auerbach, The Athletic, 28 July 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near yelp

Cite this Entry

“Yelp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yelp. Accessed 21 Jan. 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

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