yelp

1 of 2

noun

ˈyelp 

: a sharp shrill bark or cry (as of a dog or turkey)

also : squeal

yelp

2 of 2

verb

yelped; yelping; yelps

intransitive verb

: to utter a sharp quick shrill cry

dogs yelp

transitive verb

: to utter with a yelp

Synonyms

Verb

• howl
• scream
• screech
• shriek
• shrill
• squall
• squeal
• yell

Examples of yelp in a Sentence

Verb

The dog yelped in pain.

yelped with surprise when everything fell off the closet shelf and onto his head

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

And the merry-go-round of yelps and vocal chops at its core gleam like Christmas morning. —Pitchfork, 5 Dec. 2024

The sound grows in the second movement, with an insistent bell in the background and a mood of increasing emergency; yelps swell to roars. —Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, 24 Nov. 2024

Verb

Fans yelped each time Marchand popped up during the breaststroke leg, willing him to go faster and farther with each cheer. —Nicole Auerbach, The Athletic, 28 July 2024

Promptly, Danielle slams her drink against the side of Jen’s neck, at which everybody yelps and jumps in to stop things from getting worse. —Tom Smyth, Vulture, 24 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English, to boast, cry out, from Old English gielpan to boast, exult; akin to Old High German gelph outcry

First Known Use

Noun

1501, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1553, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing yelp

• give/make a yelp

Kids Definition

yelp

1 of 2 noun

ˈyelp 

: a sharp quick shrill bark or cry

the yelps of turkeys

yelp

2 of 2 verb

: to utter a yelp or a similar sound

he yelped in pain

heard the dog yelping again

yelper noun

Etymology

Noun

Middle English yelpen "to boast, cry out," from Old English gielpan "to boast, exult"