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Definition of yo-yo

yo-yo

Plural:yo-yos
•
Past Simple:yo-yoed
•
Past Participle:yo-yoed
•
Present Participle:yo-yoing
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• noun

1

A toy consisting of two connected disks with a string wound around the axle, which is made to fall and rise by unwinding and rewinding the string.

Example

"The child spent hours in the park trying to perform a complex trick with his wooden yo-yo."

2

A person or thing that repeatedly changes position, state, or opinion; something that fluctuates rapidly.

Example

"The local housing market has been a yo-yo recently, making it difficult for first-time buyers to plan ahead."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• verb

1

To fluctuate or alternate rapidly and repeatedly between two states, positions, or levels.

Example

"Her weight yo-yoed for years before she finally established a sustainable and healthy lifestyle."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for yo-yo
Antonyms
View all antonyms for yo-yo

• Nearby Words

ylang-ylang
yo
yo yo loach
yo-yo
yodel
yodeler
yoga

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Yo-yo. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/yo--yo
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