“Yoked” Meaning, Origin and Examples

Last updated on January 9, 2025 by Isabella Claire

What does yoked mean? You hear a lot of interesting sounds when walking into a gym. Weights slamming, the grunts of individuals putting everything they can into a lift, and what seems to be more common: the chatter. People love to talk. Walk around, exposing biceps and pectoral muscles. More importantly, people love to fish for compliments. Terms like “Big man,” “Boss,” and “Beastmode,” are thrown around regularly, but there is one that stands out….”yoked.”

“Yoked” Meaning, Origin and Usage

Key Takeaways

  • To put it simply, it is one of the highest compliments you can receive as your build your body. It means you are huge and look like what everyone is striving to achieve. It means all your hard work has paid off, and you are now a status symbol at the gym.
Yoked Meaning
“Yoked” Meaning – Created by 7ESL

Yoked Meaning

In slang, “yoked” means being extremely muscular or well-built, often with visibly defined muscles. It’s commonly used to describe someone who is physically strong and has a powerful, athletic physique.

  • Context: It’s popular in gym culture or among athletes.
  • Example: “He’s been hitting the gym hard lately—he’s totally yoked.”

Origin of this Term

Originally, the word “yoke” meant a pair of oxen. We all know how strong oxen are. Strong enough to plow a field of dirt deep enough to plants crops. Strong enough to trench through frozen ground on any given occasion as if it were a knife through butter. More importantly, strong enough to run through a full grown man and toss him around as if he were nothing more than a mild inconvenience, It’s easy to see where the term comes from when used comparatively.

Usage of “Yoked”

1. Describing Physical Fitness

  • Context: Refers to someone with a muscular and athletic build.
  • Example: “After months of training, he’s looking seriously yoked now.”

2. Talking About Gym Culture

  • Context: Highlighting someone’s dedication to bodybuilding or weightlifting.
  • Example: “The guys at that gym are all yoked—it’s inspiring to work out there.”

3. Complimenting Strength

  • Context: Admiring someone’s physical power or capability.
  • Example: “He carried that heavy sofa by himself—dude’s so yoked!”

4. In Sports or Athletics

  • Context: Describing an athlete’s powerful physique or readiness for competition.
  • Example: “The linebacker is completely yoked, no wonder he dominates on the field.”

5. In Casual Joking or Exaggeration

  • Context: Playfully referring to someone as muscular or strong, even if it’s exaggerated.
  • Example: “After lifting those grocery bags, I feel yoked!”

Other Meanings of Yoked

Personally, I had only heard of term being used to describe myself at the gym. Numerous times I had been called “yoked.” Upon further investigation, I have learned the term typically has three meanings. The first being the device that had joined oxen and other farm animals. The second meaning as is used to describe a muscular individual. Lastly the third term is used to describe an attachment between people. A simple example of the third meaning would be describing a group of people constantly being seen together.

Related Terms to “Yoked”

  • Ripped – Extremely muscular and lean, with well-defined muscles.
  • Shredded – Refers to someone with very low body fat and prominent muscle definition.
  • Buff – Strong and muscular, often implying a larger build.
  • Swole – A casual term for someone with a highly muscular physique, often after working out.
  • Jack(ed) – Refers to someone who is muscular and powerful in appearance.
  • Diesel – A slang term for someone who is very muscular and tough-looking.
  • Cut – Describes someone with a lean body and highly defined muscles.
  • Athletic – Having a fit and toned physique, often implying physical agility and strength.
  • Hench – British slang for someone who is very muscular and strong.
  • Brawny – Refers to someone who is physically strong and muscular.
  • Beefed Up – A term for someone who has built a lot of muscle, often through weightlifting.
  • Powerhouse – Describes a person with exceptional physical strength or energy.
  • Chiseled – Refers to a muscular physique with sharply defined features, like abs or jawlines.
  • Stacked – Informal term for someone with a broad, muscular, and imposing build.
  • Toned – Refers to someone with firm, well-defined muscles, but not overly bulky.

Other Ways to Say the Term

  • Muscular
  • Built
  • Strong
  • Solid
  • Powerful

“Yoked” Examples

Example Sentences

  • “After months of lifting weights, he’s completely yoked now.”
  • “That guy at the gym is so yoked, he can bench twice his body weight.”
  • “You’ve been working out a lot lately—you’re looking pretty yoked!”
  • “The actor got yoked for his new superhero role; his transformation is insane.”
  • “She’s been training for the competition and is looking seriously yoked.”
  • “The football team’s defensive line is full of yoked athletes this year.”
  • “I’ve never seen anyone that yoked—his arms are bigger than my legs!”

Example Conversations

Conversation 1: At the Gym

  • Jake: “Man, have you seen Mike lately? He’s been hitting the gym hard.”
  • Tom: “Yeah, he’s totally yoked now. Did you see his arms? They’re massive!”
  • Jake: “No kidding. Makes me want to step up my game.”

Conversation 2: Talking About a Celebrity

  • Lisa: “Did you see the trailer for that new action movie?”
  • Sarah: “Yeah, the lead actor got so yoked for that role. He looks unrecognizable!”
  • Lisa: “I know, right? I read he trained six hours a day for months.”
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