Meaning & use
yelled at
Last updated
“yelled at” is a form of “yell at”.
Meaning
verbtransitive or intransitive
Spoke very loudly and angrily to someone, often because you were upset or trying to control them.
Grammar: Takes an object: yell at someone. Can also be used without an object if the person is clear from context.
Patterns
- yell at someone
- yell at someone for something
- yell at someone to do something
She yelled at her brother for taking her phone without asking.
The coach yelled at the players to run faster.
Don't yell at me—I didn't do anything wrong.
Word forms
| base form | yell at |
|---|---|
| third person singular | yells at |
| past tense | yelled at |
| past participle | yelled at |
| -ing form | yelling at |
Common combinations
- yell at someone for doing something
- He yelled at his son for breaking the window.
- yell at someone to do something
- The teacher yelled at the class to be quiet.
- yell at the top of your lungs
- She yelled at the top of her lungs, but no one heard.
Synonyms and how they differ
- shout at
- Similar, but 'shout at' can be simply to make yourself heard, while 'yell at' usually suggests anger or reprimand.
- scold
- More formal and means to criticize or reprimand, often without raising your voice.
- berate
- Formal and means to scold someone at length; stronger and more literary than 'yell at'.
Opposites
Word family
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
Choose one answer.
The phrasal verb 'yell at' takes the preposition 'at' before the person. 'Yell to' is possible when you shout so someone can hear you, but it does not mean scold. 'Yell on' is not used.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “yelled at”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.