# yak

/ˈjæk/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/yak
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

to talk for a long time about things that are not very important. It is a casual way to say someone is chatting too much.

For teachers: to engage in persistent, trivial, or noisy conversation. Often carries a slightly critical or dismissive tone regarding the value of the speech.

## Examples

- They stayed on the phone to yak for hours about nothing.
- While the committee members yakked on about minor procedural details, the actual deadline for the proposal passed without a single vote being cast.

## Usage notes

- The verb is intransitive and often pairs with the particle 'on'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.