This list includes 19 SAT words that start with Y, from “yank” to “yuletide”. They are mostly rare or formal vocabulary useful for reading comprehension and high-level writing.
SAT words that start with Y are select vocabulary entries beginning with Y that improve clarity and precision in reading and essays. For example, “yuletide” preserves the Old English word “Yule”, linking vocabulary to winter holiday traditions.
Below you’ll find the table with Word, Difficulty, Definition, and Example.
Word: The vocabulary entry itself, so you can scan quickly for terms you already know or need to learn.
Difficulty: A concise tag (easy/medium/hard) that helps you prioritize study time and focus on challenging words.
Definition: A one-line, dictionary-style meaning that helps you understand usage without extra technical jargon.
Example: A single clear sentence showing typical usage, which helps you see context and remember meaning.
SAT words that start with Y
| Word | Part of Speech | Difficulty | Example Sentence | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yawn | verb/noun | easy | She tried not to yawn during the long lecture. | To open the mouth wide and inhale from tiredness; also a gap or dull moment. |
| yearn | verb | medium | He yearned for the quiet of his childhood home. | To have an intense, often persistent longing or desire for something. |
| yearly | adjective/adverb | easy | The company conducts a yearly performance review every December. | Occurring once every year; annual. |
| yelp | verb/noun | easy | The dog yelped when its paw was stepped on. | A short, sharp cry of pain or surprise; to utter such a cry. |
| yen | noun | medium | After months abroad, she had a yen to return home. | A strong or persistent desire or craving. |
| yeoman | noun | hard | The yeoman worked the land and maintained the estate. | Historically a small landowner or dependable attendant; denotes steady, practical service. |
| yore | noun | medium | Stories of knights from yore still captivate readers. | Refers to a long-ago era or former times, often used nostalgically. |
| yarn | noun/verb | medium | Grandpa spun a yarn about his adventurous youth. | A tale, often long or fanciful; also thread used for knitting or weaving. |
| yaw | verb/noun | hard | The ship yawed in the strong crosswinds. | To swerve or change course briefly, especially of a ship or aircraft. |
| yawp | verb/noun | hard | He let out a loud yawp of triumph on stage. | A loud, raucous cry or exclamation; used for a coarse or hearty shout. |
| yoke | noun/verb | medium | They yoked the oxen to the plow at dawn. | A device for joining draft animals; metaphorically to join, burden, or subjugate. |
| yokel | noun | medium | The city reporters derided the yokel’s rural misconceptions. | A derogatory term for an unsophisticated person from a rural area. |
| yank | verb | easy | She yanked the door open with one hand. | To pull abruptly and forcefully. |
| yardstick | noun | medium | Test scores serve as a yardstick for student progress. | A standard or measure for comparison; literally a measuring stick one yard long. |
| yesteryear | noun | medium | Cars from yesteryear often attract collectors. | Bygone years or the past, often evoked with nostalgia. |
| yield | verb/noun | medium | The experiment yielded surprising and useful data. | To produce or give forth; to give way; also the amount produced or returned. |
| youthful | adjective | easy | Her youthful energy impressed the interviewers. | Having qualities of youth: energetic, fresh, or inexperienced, depending on context. |
| youth | noun | easy | Youth is often associated with optimism and risk-taking. | The period of being young; young people collectively. |
| yuletide | noun | medium | Families exchanged gifts during the cheerful Yuletide. | The Christmas season; the festive time around Christmas and late December. |