yell

Meanings

1. To shout loudly, often because of anger, excitement or pain.
2. To tell someone off loudly (yell at someone).
3. A loud cry (noun).

Example sentences

• "Please do not yell in the library."

  Level A1, Meaning 1

• "He yelled for help when the boat tipped."

  Level A2, Meaning 1

• "The coach yelled at the players after the game."

  Level B1, Meaning 2

• "She yelled across the street to her friend."

  Level A2, Meaning 1

• "A yell came from the garden."

  Level B1, Meaning 3

Synonyms and antonyms

Look-alikes and common mistakes

• shout : Shout is the general word. Yell often sounds more emotional or angry.
• scream : A scream is a high, sharp cry, usually from fear or pain. A yell can be low or deep.
• yelp : A yelp is a short, sharp cry, especially from a dog or from sudden pain.

Word family and forms

Forms: yells, yelled, yelling

Word partners

Words and phrases that often go with "yell".

• yell at someone
• yell for help
• yell out
• yell back
• yell in anger
• yell with joy
• a loud yell
• yell across the room

Origin

Yell comes from Middle English yellen, from Old English giellan, which meant to cry out. It is related to German gellen, meaning to resound, and to Dutch gillen. The word is first recorded in English before the year 1000.

Checked against: Wiktionary, the free dictionary, Dictionary.com.

How to remember it

Yell rhymes with bell. Imagine a bell ringing loudly: a yell is a loud sound of the voice.

Test yourself

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