What does yelled mean?
Yelled is the past tense and past participle of yell, a verb meaning to cry or call out loudly. It is especially associated with a sudden burst of sound caused by fear, pain, anger, surprise, or excitement: someone may yell for help, yell at a threatening person, or yell with delight. The word is common in everyday speech in both British and American English and often carries a sense of emotional intensity or urgency. It can also mean more generally to shout something loudly, although the emotional force of the original meaning often remains present. Yelled is particularly useful when describing a brief, forceful vocal reaction rather than continued loud speaking. Its simple past and past-participle forms make it natural in narrative descriptions of events, while the related noun yeller can identify someone who habitually shouts or cries out.
verb (past tense and past participle)To cry or call out loudly, especially in fear, pain, anger, surprise, or excitement.
- To cry or shout loudly, typically because of fear, pain, anger, surprise, or excitement.
"The startled hikers yelled for help as the river rose around their ankles."
"The crowd yelled as the runner crossed the finish line."
"She yelled for the driver to stop."
Yelled captures the instant when a voice suddenly bursts beyond the limits of ordinary speech.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does yelled come from?
The underlying verb yell comes from Middle English yellen, which developed from Old English gyllan, an imitative strong verb. Related Germanic forms include Middle Dutch gullen and Old High German gullen, supporting an imitative origin linked with a loud cry. The form yelled adds the regular English past-tense and past-participle ending to yell.
Related word forms
How yelled is actually used
Yelled is informal to neutral in register. It often suggests a sudden, emotionally intense cry, and it can be stronger and more intense than simply shouted.