What does yukked mean?
Yukked is the past tense and past participle of the informal verb yuk, meaning to vomit. It is used both transitively, as in “she yukked the spoiled milk into the sink,” and intransitively, as in “he yukked after tasting the sauce.” The word belongs to informal, everyday English rather than formal or literary registers and is less clinical or restrained than “vomit”; “puke” and “retch” are close informal alternatives. Yukked can appear in vivid accounts of illness, alcohol use, food poisoning, or sudden nausea, where its brevity and bluntness make the event sound immediate and physical. Its meaning is distinct from the familiar exclamation “yuck,” used to express disgust, although the two forms are closely associated in modern usage. Because “yukked” is an inflected form rather than an independent lexical entry, its dictionary headword is normally “yuk.” The form is understandable in both British and American English, but frequency and familiarity may vary. Overall, “yukked” is a vivid, colloquial way to report vomiting rather than a formal diagnostic term.
verbThe past tense and past participle of yuk: to vomit, especially abruptly or forcefully.
- To vomit, especially suddenly or forcefully.
"The child yukked after tasting the sauce."
"The child yukked after tasting the sauce."
"He yukked the spoiled milk into the sink."
Yukked is a blunt little sound for a very physical reaction—and it is clearly not a polite substitute for “vomit.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of yukked
The exact origin of yuk is unknown. It was recorded in American English by the late nineteenth century as a verb meaning “to vomit.” The closely associated form yuck is also attested in American English and became especially familiar as an expression of disgust, but their precise historical relationship is uncertain.
Related word forms
How yukked is actually used
Informal and colloquial. It is less clinical or restrained than “vomit,” and “puke” and “retch” are close informal alternatives.
Easily confused with yukked
Yuk is the verb meaning to vomit, while yuck is best known as an exclamation or adjective expressing disgust, although some dictionaries also record a verbal use of yuck for vomiting.