yoke

14 synonyms and 1 antonym for yoke, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A wooden bar or frame joining two draught animals, such as oxen, at the neck so they can pull a plough or cart together.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

couple link pair

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

span duo brace coupling twain duet

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

dyad twosome duad couplet distich

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A wooden bar or frame joining two draught animals, such as oxen, at the neck so they can pull a plough or cart together.

“The farmer fitted the oxen with a heavy wooden yoke before ploughing the field.”

couple link pair span duo brace coupling twain duet dyad twosome duad couplet distich

2. verb

To join two draught animals together with a yoke, or attach them to a cart or plough.

“They yoked the oxen at dawn before setting out to plough.”

link

Opposites

unyoke

How to use yoke

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

yoke oxen together under the yoke of shoulder yoke (clothing)

Etymology

From Old English "geoc," from a very old Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to join" — the same root that gives us "yoga" and "jugular."

Full origin of yoke →

Frequently asked questions

What does “yoke” mean?

The word “yoke” means a wooden bar or frame joining two draught animals, such as oxen, at the neck so they can pull a plough or cart together. In plain terms, literally, the wooden crosspiece that joins two animals to pull a load together; figuratively, any burden, bond, or restrictive tie between people or things.

How do you pronounce “yoke”?

“Yoke” is pronounced yohk (/joʊk/ in IPA).

How do you use “yoke” in a sentence?

Here is “yoke” used in a sentence: “The farmer fitted the oxen with a heavy wooden yoke before ploughing the field.”

What part of speech is “yoke”?

Depending on how it is used, “yoke” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “yoke” come from?

The word “yoke” comes from Old English. From Old English "geoc," from a very old Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to join" — the same root that gives us "yoga" and "jugular.".

Is “yoke” a common word?

“Yoke” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “yoke” have?

“Yoke” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a wooden bar or frame joining two draught animals, such as oxen, at the neck so they can pull a plough or cart together.

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couple link pair span duo brace coupling twain duet duad couplet dyad

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