1 C1 neutral
To become yellow and discolored at the edges or surface, especially due to age or oxidation.
"The old newspaper had yellowed off at the corners from decades of storage."
inseparable
yellow off
C1 neutral inseparable intransitive
To turn yellow and fade or discolor, especially at the edges or surface of something.
In plain English
To go yellow and look old or worn out, especially around the edges.
What does "yellow off" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To become yellow and then fade off — mostly transparent.
Actually means
To go yellow and look old or worn out, especially around the edges.
Usage tip
Very rare and non-standard. Primarily used in specialist contexts such as photography, paper conservation, or materials science to describe edge yellowing or oxidization. Not used in everyday speech.
Words that pair with "yellow off"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
paper edges photograph pages paint
How to conjugate "yellow off"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
yellow off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
yellows off
he/she/it
Past simple
yellowed off
yesterday
Past participle
yellowed off
have + pp
-ing form
yellowing off
continuous
Hear "yellow off" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "yellow off" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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