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Definition of yellow

yellow

/ˈjɛl.oʊ/
yel · low

Adverb:yellowly
•
Plural:yellows
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Adjective:yellow
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Past Simple:yellowed
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Past Participle:yellowed
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Present Participle:yellowing
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yellow Lexical Profile

yellow Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Of the color between green and orange in the spectrum, resembling the color of ripe lemons or the sun.

Example

"She painted the kitchen walls a bright, cheerful yellow to make the room feel warmer."


2

Cowardly or lacking courage.

Example

"He accused his opponent of being too yellow to face him in a fair, unmoderated debate."


3

Characterized by sensationalism, scandal-mongering, or unprofessional exaggeration (especially in journalism).

Example

"The tabloid is notorious for its yellow journalism, often printing unverified rumors as front-page news."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for yellow
Antonyms
View all antonyms for yellow

• noun

1

The color between green and orange in the visible spectrum; a primary subtractive color complementary to blue.

Example

"Yellow is frequently used in traffic signals and warning signs to indicate caution."


2

A pigment, dye, or paint of a yellow hue.

Example

"The artist mixed ochre and cadmium to create the perfect yellow for the wheat field."

• verb

1

To make or become yellow, especially as a result of age, exposure to light, or decay.

Example

"The pages of the ancient manuscript had yellowed significantly over centuries of storage in the archive."

• Rhymes for yellow

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old English 'geolu' or 'geolwe', deriving from Proto-Germanic '*gelwaz', and ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European root '*ghel-' meaning to shine, with derivatives referring to bright materials and gold.

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Yellow. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/yellow
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