yes

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈjɛs/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/jɛs/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(yes)

Inflections of 'yes' (n): npl: yeses
Inflections of 'yes' (v): (⇒ conjugate)
yeses
v 3rd person singular
yessing
v pres p
yessed
v past
yessed
v past p
WordReference Collins English Usage © 2025
yes
You use yes to agree with someone, to say that something is true, or to accept something.
‘We need to talk.’ – ‘Yes, you’re right.'
‘Is that true?’ – ‘Yes.’
‘Tea?’ – ‘Yes, thanks.’
Be careful
When someone asks a negative question, you must say yes if you want to give a positive answer. For example, if someone says ‘Aren’t you going out this evening?', you say ‘Yes, I am’. Don't say ‘No, I am’. Similarly, if someone says ‘Haven’t you met John?', you say, ‘Yes, I have’.
‘Haven’t you got any clothes with you?' – ‘Yes, in that suitcase.’
‘Didn’t you buy him a present?' – ‘Yes, I did.’
Be careful
Similarly, you say yes if you want to disagree with a negative statement. For example, if someone says ‘He doesn’t want to come', you can say ‘Yes, he does’. Don't say ‘No, he does’.
‘That isn’t true.' – ‘Oh yes, it is.’
'yes' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

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