# yikes

/ˈjaɪks/ (US) · /jˈaɪks/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Interjection

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/yikes
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

something you say when you are surprised, shocked, or a bit worried. It is a casual way to react to something bad or embarrassing.

For teachers: expresses a sudden reaction of alarm, surprise, or mild distress. Often used to acknowledge an awkward or cringeworthy situation in informal social contexts.

## Examples

- Yikes, that was a close call!
- I just saw the bill for the car repairs and—yikes—it is much higher than I expected.
- When the presenter realized his microphone had been live during the entire private conversation, all he could mutter was a quiet, embarrassed 'yikes' before attempting to continue the meeting.

## Usage notes

- Used as a standalone exclamation or as a parenthetical insertion to signal a reaction to a specific piece of information.

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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.