English Reference

Word

yes

US/ˈjɛs/

UK/jˈɛs/

Definitions

01agreement or acceptance

A1

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.

“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.

Synonyms

Antonyms

no

02answering a call

A1

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.

“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.

Synonyms

04an affirmative vote

B2

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.

Synonyms

Antonyms

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.

This entry

Level
A1 · Beginner
Frequency
Very common
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference