interjection
Common
yup
yuhp
Yup (interjection) means an informal way of saying yes. Example: “Yup, I'll be there at six," she said into the phone.”
interjection
1
An informal way of saying yes.
""Yup, I'll be there at six," she said into the phone."
"Do you want tea? Yup, with a little milk, please."
""Yup, that's the one," he said, pointing at the map."
noun
1
A casual yes or affirmative answer.
"All I got from him was a mumbled yup before he left the room."
"When I asked if he was ready, his only answer was a cheerful yup."
"Petey's end was all yups and nopes. And an okay."
— Susie Moloney, The Dwelling (2003)
"She gave a quick yup and kept walking."
"A rotating cast of auctioneers unleashed a torrent of increasingly high bids, speaking at a machine gun's pace while a chorus of increasingly aggressive "yups" emerged from the audience."
— Michael Siebert, Picking the bones at Smurfit-Stone (2017)
How to use yup
Learner’s notes
When to use it
Very informal — used in speech and texting, not in formal writing.
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Word forms
- Plural
- yups
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"_____, I'll be there at six," she said into the phone.
Etymology
A casual variant of "yeah," said with the lips snapping shut at the end.
Related words
Rhymes for yup
See all rhymes for yup →Frequently asked questions
What does “yup” mean?
The word “yup” means an informal way of saying yes.
How do you pronounce “yup”?
“Yup” is pronounced yuhp (/jʌp/ in IPA).
How do you use “yup” in a sentence?
Here is “yup” used in a sentence: “"Yup, that's the one," he said, pointing at the map.”
What is the opposite of “yup”?
The opposite of “yup” — its antonyms — is nope.
What part of speech is “yup”?
Depending on how it is used, “yup” can be an interjection and a noun.
Is “yup” a common word?
“Yup” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “yup” have?
“Yup” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an informal way of saying yes.
Is yup rude or unprofessional?
Yup is not rude, but it is distinctly casual. It suits texting, chat, and relaxed speech among friends or close colleagues; in formal writing, interviews, or professional email, yes is the safer choice because yup can come across as offhand.
What is the difference between yup and yep?
There is no difference in meaning — both are informal ways of saying yes. The choice is one of habit and sound: yep ends with a short e sound and yup with a flatter u sound. Both are common in casual speech and writing.
When should you use yes instead of yup?
Use yes in formal or high-stakes contexts — professional emails, interviews, official documents — and whenever you want your agreement to sound considered rather than casual. Yup works in informal conversation, texting, and chat among people you know well.
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