English vocabulary · C1
Yank
/jæŋk/ · v./n.
Yank means to move something hard and fast. It moves at once.
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Example sentences
- He yanked the rope from the hook.
- She gave the door a quick yank.
Word origin and roots
- origin — unknown
Synonyms and nuances
- TUG — a short hard pull (Pull One Time)
- JERK — a fast sudden move (Move Very Fast)
- PULL — bring it near (Move Toward You)
Similar words
- tug
- jerk
- pull
Lesson notes
Yank means to move something hard and fast. It moves at once.
Related: tug, jerk, pull. Use yank when you move something with one hard quick pull.
He yanked the rope from the hook. She gave the door a quick yank.
Yank has an unknown origin. It first appeared in Scottish English in the early 1800s. Its beginning is not known today.