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Definition
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plural yo-yos
1
: a thick grooved double disk with a string attached to its center axle that is made to fall and rise to the hand by unwinding and rewinding on the string
2
: a condition or situation marked by regular fluctuations from one extreme to another
3
: a stupid or foolish person
: shifting back and forth or up and down uncertainly or unexpectedly
yo-yoed; yo-yoing
: to move from one position to another repeatedly : fluctuate
the stock price yo-yoed
Synonyms
Noun
Examples of yo-yo in a Sentence
Noun
some yo-yo cut the electricity off while I still had unsaved data
those yo-yos who insist upon using their cell phones while speeding down the highway
Recent Examples on the Web
Elisabeth Vincentelli, New York Times, 30 Dec. 2024
If the two late games should find millions of fans draining the batteries in their remotes as they yo-yo back and forth between Philly and Detroit, the networks are hoping that the rare 4:20 overlap won’t give rise to the ratings cannibalism that’s blighted previous doubleheader double-downs.
—
Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 13 Dec. 2024
Matt Porter, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Mar. 2023
Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 6 May 2024
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Noun
First in line for storms This yo-yo pattern comes from the resort’s location, 200 miles east of San Francisco.
—Adjective
Related: It’s been a yo-yo season for the Bruins’ Jakub Lauko.
—Verb
Michigan gas prices continue to yo-yo, falling more than a dime in the last week to a statewide average of $3.60 a gallon for regular unleaded, as motorists pay about $54 for a 15-gallon tank, as crude oil prices fall, according to AAA auto club.
—Word History
Dictionary Entries Near yo-yo
Cite this Entry
“Yo-yo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yo-yo. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.
Kids Definition
yo-yo
nounˈyō-ˌyō
plural yo-yos
1
: a thick divided disk that is made to fall and rise to the hand by unwinding and rewinding on a string
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