40 Verbs That Start with Y | Huge List with Definitions and Examples

You must be familiar of the fact that there are a limited number of verbs that start with Y. This lack of verbs beginning with Y is due to the fact that Y, as a consonant, does not have a distinct sound when it comes at the beginning of a consonant cluster.

Before we talk about verbs that start with Y in detail, let us find out what a verb actually is. Verb is a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence, and forming the main part of the predicate of a sentence.

In British and American English, most of the verbs that start with Y have become archaic and obsolete, and are no longer in use. In Scottish and Australian English, on the other hand, a large number of these verbs have been retained. Some of the verbs in this article are no longer used in British English but are still used in Scottish and Australian English.

Let us now go through the list of action words starting with Y given below. Try to get yourself familiarized with them and also make an effort in using them in your own phrases and sentences that you utter in your everyday life.

Table of Contents

Common Verbs That Start with Y

A verb is a doing word that shows an action, an event or a state. A sentence may either have a main verb, a helping verb or both. Following are some of the verbs that start with Y. Try and learn as many of these verbs starting with Y as possible.

1. Yank

Definition: to pull something forcefully with a quick movement
Synonyms: jerk, pluck
Example: Charlie yanked the door open.

2. Yap

Definition: to make a sharp, shrill bark
Synonyms: yelp, woof

Example: The dog was yapping all night.

3. Yellow

Definition: to make or become yellow

Synonyms: tinge, age
Example: The leaves have yellowed due to excessive heat.

4. Yowl

Definition: to make a long cry, usually when hurt
Synonyms: bawl, wail
Example: He was yowling in pain.

5. Yell

Definition: to raise your voice and shout
Synonyms: bawl, yowl

Example: Why are you yelling at her?

6. Yak

Definition: to talk incessantly and tiresomely about trivial things

Synonyms: gab, yap
Example: She has been yakking for quite some time now.

7. Yarn

Definition: to tell a long story
Synonyms: babble, blather
Example: He was yarning about the Greek Gods.

8. Yaw

Definition: to swerve off course
Synonyms: deviate, stray

Example: He spun the steering-wheel and we yawed from side to side.

9. Yabber

Definition: to talk nonsensically

Synonyms: chatter, babble
Example: What was she yabbering about?

Positive Verbs That Start with Y

Words with a positive connotation appear pleasant, fulfilling, and affirming in the context in which they are employed. Following are some of the positive verbs that start with Y. Find out for yourself how many of these verbs starting with Y had you known before.

1. Yield

Definition: to produce a natural, agricultural, or industrial product
Synonyms: generate, produce

Example: This soil should yield good crops.

2. Yo-yo

Definition: to move up and down

Synonyms: oscillate, fluctuate
Example: Popularity polls yo-yo up and down with the flow of events.

3. Yacht

Definition: to cruise, race, sail or travel in a yacht
Synonyms: boat, ship
Example: He was yachting in high waters.

4. Yard

Definition: put (farm animals) into an enclosure
Synonyms: put, keep, enclose

Example: Sheep should be yarded even in the spring.

5. Yawp

Definition: to shout or exclaim hoarsely

Synonyms: grizzle, yammer
Example: The fans were yawping in the stadium.

6. Yean

Definition: (of sheep) to give birth to a lamb
Synonyms: born, bud
Example: The other day a lamb was yeaned.

7. Yeast

Definition: to ferment or froth
Synonyms: brew, churn

Example: The mixture of flour and water is yeasted to form bread.

8. Yock

Definition: to laugh or joke

Synonyms: giggle, grin
Example: He was yocking with her friends.

9. Yodel

Definition: to sing or call with abrupt alternating changes between a normal chest register and falsetto
Synonyms: carol, shout
Example: You haven’t lived till you’ve learned how to yodel at a tea dance in a mountain hut!

Verbs That Start with Y to Describe a Person

There are certain verbs in English language that represent a state of being, need, opinion, sense, or preference. Following are some of the verbs that start with Y to describe a person. If you know more such verbs that start with Y, add them to this list.

1. Yelp

Definition: to utter a short, sharp cry

Synonyms: yowl, hoot
Example: Ali was yelping in pain.

2. Yawn

Definition: to open your mouth widely and breathe in because you’re tired
Synonyms: snooze, drowse
Example: I can’t stop yawning – I must be tired.

3. Yip

Definition: to emit a yelp
Synonyms: yap, yowl

Example: Ahmed was yipping all night.

4. Yen

Definition: to have a desire for something or someone who is not present

Synonyms: crave, desire
Example: She was yenning for her lover.

5. Yammer

Definition: to talk continuously for a long time in a way that is annoying to other people
Synonyms: chatter, yap
Example: She has been yammering for hours!

6. Yuk

Definition: to joke or laugh exuberantly
Synonyms: banter, gambol

Example: The audience were yukking at the cinema.

7. Yak

Definition: to talk for a long time about unimportant matters

Synonyms: babble, blather
Example: She was yakking away about her grandchildren.

8. Yearn

Definition: to desire something strongly
Synonyms: crave, desire
Example: I yearn for the love and affection I once had.

9. Yeuk

Definition: to itch the skin
Synonyms: scratch, tingle

Example: Mike was yeuking with some discomfort.

More Verbs That Start with Y

Following are some more verbs starting with Y. Some of these verbs beginning with Y have been taken from Scottish and Australian English therefore you might get confused while learning them. To learn them properly go through them a couple of times.

1. Yark

Definition: to talk rubbish
Synonyms: slobber, jabber
Example: Why was she yarking about Joanna?

2. Yaup

Definition: to make a raucous noise
Synonyms: squawk, clamor

Example: Don’t yaup over spilled milk; just clean it up.

3. Yawl

Definition: to howl, weep, or scream

Synonyms: roar, wail
Example: Charlie was yawling for no apparent reason.

4. Yux

Definition: to sob or hiccough
Synonyms: whimper, wail
Example: John yuxed and spoke through the nose.

5. Youl

Definition: to yell
Synonyms: squawk, scream

Example: Mona was seen youling at the kids.

6. Yerk

Definition: to thrash or flog

Synonyms: whip, spank
Example: He yerked him here under the ribs.

7. Yend

Definition: to throw; to cast
Synonyms: hurl, throw
Example: She yended her old watch into the river.

Verbs That Start with Y – Full List (40 Words)

Yarn
Yawp
Yen

Yuk
Yoke
Yak

Yell
Yean
Yield

Yard
Yo-yo
Yodel

Yock
Yarm
Yawn
Yark
Youl
Yeve
Yaw
Yandy
Yead
Yux
Yank
Yeast
Yerk
Yabber
Yammer
Yacht
Yaup
Yend
Yawl
Yap
Yowl
Yearn
Yellow
Yack
Yeuk
Yelp
Yip
Yarn-dye

Final Thoughts on Verbs That Start with Y

Thank you for going through this article on verbs that start with Y. It is hoped that this article would have help you in acquiring a number of new verbs starting with Y that you haven’t heard of before.

You must have noticed this thing that in both our verbal and written communications, we use some verbs more than the others. The verbs that start with Y that you have learned in this article are not used on a regular basis in our daily life routine. If you want to stand apart from the rest of the people, start using these verbs in your daily life talks.

Let us now conclude our discussion on verbs beginning with Y. Try adding new verbs to the list of verbs given above if you want to enhance your vocabulary.