Word
yes
US/ˈjɛs/
UK/jˈɛs/
Definitions
01agreement or acceptance
A1 · Beginner
part. you use this to agree with someone or to say that something is true.
part. used to express agreement, confirmation, or acceptance in response to a question or statement.
日本語:はい※
“When I asked if she wanted some coffee, she just said yes and smiled.”
“The witness answered with a firm yes when asked to confirm the identity of the suspect in the courtroom.”
Usage
functions as a complete sentence or a response particle.
Antonyms
02answering a call
A1 · Beginner
part. you use this to show you are listening when someone calls your name.
part. used as a response to being addressed, indicating that the speaker is present and paying attention.
日本語:はい※
“Yes? I am in the kitchen if you need any help.”
“The professor looked up from his notes and said, 'Yes? Do you have a question about the lecture?'”
Usage
often spoken with a rising intonation.
03an affirmative vote
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a vote in favour of something, or a person who votes that way.
n. an affirmative answer or a vote cast in support of a proposal.
“The committee counted ten yeses and only two nos for the new plan.”
“The resolution passed easily, with the final tally showing forty yeses against only five dissenting votes.”
Usage
often used in the plural when counting votes.
Etymology
From Middle English yes, from Old English ġīese (“by all means, of course, yes”), derived from the same root as yea. Compare Faroese júsá (“yes, indeed, certainly”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 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.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL 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: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A1 · BeginnerOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/yes
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0