Definition

1. Noun:

   • A loud, sharp cry of emotion: A yell is a sudden, loud vocal sound expressing strong feeling such as pain, anger, fear, or excitement. It is often inarticulate.
   • A loud shout, often of protest or encouragement: A yell can also be a deliberate, loud call or shout, used to get attention, oppose something, or cheer in support, such as at a sports event.

2. Verb:

   • To shout or cry out loudly: To yell means to utter a loud, sharp cry, often involuntarily due to a strong emotion like pain or surprise.
   • To speak or declare something very loudly: To yell also means to say words in a very loud voice, typically to be heard over distance or noise, or to express anger.

Examples

• Noun:

  • He let out a yell of pain when he stubbed his toe.
  • The crowd's yell of protest could be heard outside the building.
  • The team's fight yell echoed through the stadium.

• Verb:

  • She yelled in surprise when the firework went off.
  • "Watch out!" he yelled from across the street.
  • The coach yelled instructions to the players on the field.

Advanced Usage

• "to yell at someone": to shout angrily at a person.

  • The teacher yelled at the students for being too noisy.

• "to yell for help": to shout loudly in order to get assistance.

  • Trapped in the well, he yelled for help until someone heard him.

• "to yell one's head off": (idiomatic) to yell very loudly and for a long time.

  • The fans were yelling their heads off for the home team.

Variants and Related Words

• Yelling (noun/gerund): The act of shouting loudly.

  • All the yelling made it impossible to concentrate.

• Yeller (noun): A person who yells, especially habitually.

  • He's a real yeller when he gets angry.

Synonyms

• Shout: To call or cry out loudly.
• Scream: To utter a long, loud, piercing cry, often expressing fear or pain.
• Bellow: To emit a deep, loud roar, like a bull, often in anger.
• Howl: To utter a long, loud, mournful cry, like a wolf, or to laugh or cry very loudly.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Yell out: To shout something suddenly or loudly.
  • Someone yelled out the answer before I could speak.

Related Idioms

• Yell bloody murder: To scream or protest very loudly and dramatically.

  • The child yelled bloody murder when his toy was taken away.

• Yell at the top of one's lungs: To shout as loudly as one possibly can.

  • She yelled at the top of her lungs to warn them about the danger.

Noun

1. a loud utterance of emotion (especially when inarticulate)
   • a cry of rage
   • a yell of pain
2. a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
   • the speaker was interrupted by loud cries from the rear of the audience

Verb

1. utter or declare in a very loud voice
   • You don't have to yell--I can hear you just fine
2. utter a sudden loud cry
   • she cried with pain when the doctor inserted the needle
   • I yelled to her from the window but she couldn't hear me