- used to answer a question and say that something is correct or true
- ‘Is this your car?’ ‘Yes, it is.’
- ‘Are you coming? Yes or no?’
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- resounding
- simple
- answer
- say
- vote
- …
- vote
- with a yes
- yes to
- yes or no
- used to show that you agree with what has been said
- ‘I enjoyed her latest novel.’ ‘Yes, me too.’
- ‘It's an excellent hotel.’ ‘Yes, but (= I don't completely agree) it's too expensive.’
- In reply to his question, most of them answered yes.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- resounding
- simple
- answer
- say
- vote
- …
- vote
- with a yes
- yes to
- yes or no
- used to disagree with something negative that somebody has just said
- ‘I've never met her before.’ ‘Yes, you have.’
- used to agree to a request or to give permission
- ‘Dad, can I borrow the car?’ ‘Yes, but be careful.’
- We're hoping that they will say yes to our proposals.
Extra ExamplesTopics Opinion and argumenta1- Please say yes!
- They voted yes to strike action.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- resounding
- simple
- answer
- say
- vote
- …
- vote
- with a yes
- yes to
- yes or no
- used to accept an offer or invitation
- ‘Would you like a drink?’ ‘Yes, please/thanks.’
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- resounding
- simple
- answer
- say
- vote
- …
- vote
- with a yes
- yes to
- yes or no
- used for asking somebody what they want
- Yes? How can I help you?
- used for replying politely when somebody calls you
- ‘Waiter!’ ‘Yes, sir?’
- used to show that you have just remembered something
- Where did I put the keys? Oh yes—in my pocket!
- used to encourage somebody to continue speaking
- ‘I’m going to Paris this weekend.’ ‘Yes…’
- used to show that you do not believe what somebody has said
- ‘Sorry I'm late—the bus didn't come.’ ‘Oh yes?’
- used to emphasize what you have just said
- Mrs Smith has just won £2 million—yes!—£2 million!
- used to show that you are excited or extremely pleased about something that you have done or something that has happened
- ‘They've scored another goal.’ ‘Yes!!’
- yes, yesused to show that you are impatient or annoyed about something
- ‘Hurry up—it's late.’ ‘Yes, yes—I'm coming.’
Word OriginOld English gēse, gīse, probably from an unrecorded phrase meaning ‘may it be so’.
Idioms
See yes in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee yes in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishyes and no
- used when you cannot give a clear answer to a question
- ‘Are you enjoying it?’ ‘Yes and no.’
Check pronunciation:
yes