Word
Definitions
01to shout loudly
B1 · Intermediate
v. to shout something very loudly because you are angry, excited, or in pain.
v. to utter a loud, sharp cry or shout, often as an expression of strong emotion or to communicate over a distance.
“The fans started to yell when their team finally scored a goal.”
“The hikers had to yell to be heard over the roar of the waterfall as they navigated the narrow canyon path.”
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'at' when directed toward a person.
Pitfall
He yelled at the top of his voice.
He yelled at the top of his lungs.
While 'voice' is understood, the idiomatic expression for shouting as loud as possible is 'at the top of your lungs'.
02to scold someone
B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal
v. to speak to someone in a very loud and angry way because they did something wrong.
v. to rebuke or scold someone in a loud, aggressive manner.
“My boss yelled at me because I forgot to send the report on time.”
“The coach yelled at the players in the locker room, frustrated by their lack of discipline during the first half of the game.”
Usage
Usually takes the preposition 'at'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
03a shout
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a loud shout or cry.
n. a sudden, loud vocal sound.
“We heard a loud yell coming from the garden and ran to see what happened.”
“A sudden yell of triumph echoed through the hall as the results of the election were finally announced.”
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “yell” in context.
Verb
01. yell and scream
“It is unprofessional to yell and scream at your subordinates, regardless of the mistake they made.”
verb + and + verb
02. yell at the top of your lungs
“She ran to the balcony and yelled at the top of her lungs to get the attention of the passersby.”
verb + prep + noun + of + noun
03. yell for help
“The trapped hiker yelled for help until his voice went hoarse.”
verb + prep + noun
04. yell instructions
“The coach stood on the sidelines and yelled instructions to the players throughout the final quarter.”
verb + noun
Adverb
05. angrily yell
“The driver angrily yelled through the window when the cyclist cut him off.”
adv + verb
06. suddenly yell
“The children suddenly yelled when the magician pulled a rabbit out of the hat.”
adv + verb
07. yell back
“Even though he was frustrated, he decided not to yell back at his boss.”
verb + adv
Real-World Examples
“In a small room in Edinburgh, Megan Tomei is cleat-clipped into a stationary bike, yelling above the music as she leads a high-intensity spin class gone wrong.” “Then we’re into classic lower-league football, just people sitting there yelling stuff.” Etymology
From Middle English ȝellen, yellen, from Old English ġiellan, from Proto-Germanic *gellaną. Cognate with Saterland Frisian gälje (“to yell”), Dutch gillen (“to yell”), German Low German gellen (“to yell”), German gellen (“to yell”).
Borrowed from Scots yeld (“ceasing to give milk”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Idioms
01. yell silently
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/yell
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0