# yuck

/ˈjək/ (US) · /jˈʌk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/yuck
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 2. something disgusting

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

something that is gross or unpleasant to look at or touch.

For teachers: refers to something considered repulsive or disgusting. Often used in the phrase 'the yuck factor'.

- There was some green yuck growing at the bottom of the old coffee cup.
- The marketing team worried that the 'yuck factor' of the insect-based protein would deter potential customers.

### 3. to express disgust

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to say 'yuck' or show that you find something gross.

For teachers: to express disgust or distaste verbally. Often used in the idiomatic expression 'to yuck someone's yum'.

- Don't yuck my yum just because you don't like spicy food.
- She yucked at the sight of the raw liver, refusing to even help with the preparation of the meal.

Usage: Often used transitively in the modern slang phrase 'to yuck someone's yum', meaning to criticize something someone else enjoys.

### 4. a laugh

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · American English

a loud or big laugh.

For teachers: a loud, hearty laugh or a joke intended to provoke one.

- We had a few good yucks watching the old comedy clips.
- The sitcom relied on cheap yucks rather than clever writing to keep the audience engaged.

### 5. military student

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang · American English · Technical

a name for a second-year student at the West Point military academy.

For teachers: a slang term specifically for a sophomore (second-year student) at the United States Military Academy.

- As a yuck, he finally felt like he knew his way around the academy.
- The upperclassmen expected the yucks to mentor the incoming plebes while maintaining their own rigorous academic schedules.

## Examples

- Yuck, this milk smells like it has gone bad.
- The children looked at the plate of steamed vegetables and shouted 'yuck' in unison.
- While some find the pungent aroma of durian fruit enticing, others can barely suppress a reflexive 'yuck' the moment the thick skin is breached.

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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.