Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adverb So; by this amount.
  • interjection Used as an exclamation of pleasure, approval, elation, or victory.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The name of the letter for the y sound in Pitman shorthand.
  • interjection colloquial Alternative form of yea (yes).
  • interjection colloquial An expression of happiness.
  • adverb so, this (accompanied by a hand gesture)

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a branch of the Tai languages

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Probably from yea.]

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Alteration of yea.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Alteration of yea ("yes; even, truly, verily"). More at yea.

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Examples

  • Meskipun demikian [yay yay~ aku pakai bahasa yang bagus~], aku ngga akan menyalahkan mbaMoetz * tepuk2 mbaMoetz*, karena .. hmm ... bisa dibilang kerjasama kami kemaren begitu bagus, seolah-olah kami memakai produk otak yang sama jadi pikirannya juga hampir sama.

    mayoineko Diary Entry mayoineko 2007

  • * yay … yay*, and then continue to Jogjakarta the day after.

    Planet Ubuntu Indonesia 2009

  • "My feet are pasted on yay" is not the look to go for here.

    In honor of old-school skiffy shweta_narayan 2010

  • I was getting more than a little irritated by the time I finally entered Wisconsin - yay, a new state for me!

    Archive 2007-06-01 Dr. Lisa 2007

  • I was getting more than a little irritated by the time I finally entered Wisconsin - yay, a new state for me!

    Roadkill Dr. Lisa 2007

  • My policy is to request books by name yay Amazon wish-lists!

    Aaaaargh, Indeed Editorial Anonymous 2009

  • Therapeutic Area Strategy Manager Job edlynne @nicolemma yay for free accomdations!

    Gaea Times (by Simple Thoughts) Breaking News and incisive views 24/7 2009

  • Therapeutic Area Strategy Manager Job edlynne @nicolemma yay for free accomdations!

    Gaea Times (by Simple Thoughts) Breaking News and incisive views 24/7 2009

  • Because yesterday I attended a talk by West and Josie Rourke, the director of the first show of the season, Much Ado About Nothing 'yay' - David, 'boo' - Lisa ;)) in which West plays Benedict.

    Archive 2005-08-01 annawaits 2005

  • He voted against the health care reform bill, but he's criticized by the right for his "yay" vote on the 2009 stimulus package.

    Ashley Killough: McMahon Gets Top New York Endorsements Ashley Killough 2010

Comments

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  • As in "Yay or nay?"

    February 6, 2007

  • I like this one as a phrasing of the word yes in a yippee sort of way. "Yay!"

    August 20, 2007

  • Huzzah!

    August 20, 2007

  • as in YAAAYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    September 25, 2008