YOLO

American

[yoh-loh] / ˈyoʊ loʊ /

interjection

You only live once! (used especially to rationalize impulsive or reckless behavior).

I bought those expensive shoes I've been eying—YOLO!

verb (used without object)

to engage in impulsive or reckless behavior with this sort of rationalization.

We’ve been YOLOing all night.

Etymology

Origin of YOLO

First recorded in 1995–2000; but popularized by the Canadian rapper Drake in his song “The Motto”

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A mother of three, Robbins lives in Vermont with her husband, dogs Homie and Yolo and cat Mr. Noodle.

From The Wall Street Journal

Hedge funds have gotten good at mining social media to anticipate and profit from “YOLO” trades.

From The Wall Street Journal

The operation was led by Yolo County authorities in partnership with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, while the L.A.

From Los Angeles Times

The raid was connected to an ongoing investigation into a massive explosion at a fireworks warehouse in the rural Yolo County community of Esparto in July, the source said.

From Los Angeles Times

Sisson said that coronavirus levels are high in the wastewater of both Sacramento and West Sacramento, one of the most populous cities in Yolo County.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023