Monkey
noun
A type of animal that often lives in trees, known for its ability to swing from branch to branch.
I saw a group of monkeys in the forest.
Often appears as...
- monkey in the tree
- monkey group
noun
A person who is acting silly or who is misbehaving, especially a child.
Stop jumping on the couch, you little monkey!
Often appears as...
- little monkey
- naughty monkey
Usage tips
Disapproving
Colloquial
verb
Meddle with something, often to try and fix it but without full knowledge or skills.
Don't monkey with the electrical wiring if you don't know what you're doing.
Often appears as...
- monkey with something
- monkey around
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
noun
A sum of money or other valuable thing, often used jokingly or in a slang manner.
He owes me 500 monkeys and I doubt he'll ever pay it back.
Often appears as...
- owe monkeys
- pay monkeys
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
Colloquial
noun
A type of animal that often lives in trees, known for its ability to swing from branch to branch.
I saw a group of monkeys in the forest.
Often appears as...
- monkey in the tree
- monkey group
noun
A person who is acting silly or who is misbehaving, especially a child.
Stop jumping on the couch, you little monkey!
Often appears as...
- little monkey
- naughty monkey
Usage tips
Disapproving
Colloquial
verb
Meddle with something, often to try and fix it but without full knowledge or skills.
Don't monkey with the electrical wiring if you don't know what you're doing.
Often appears as...
- monkey with something
- monkey around
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
noun
A sum of money or other valuable thing, often used jokingly or in a slang manner.
He owes me 500 monkeys and I doubt he'll ever pay it back.
Often appears as...
- owe monkeys
- pay monkeys
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
Colloquial
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/3Not a Pet
Although cute, monkeys are wild animals, not pets, and can be dangerous.
Unlike cats, monkeys should never be kept as pets.
Pro Tip 2/3Habitat Context
Monkeys are often associated with tropical forests and zoos in conversation.
Monkeys thrive in the dense canopy of the Amazon.
Pro Tip 3/3Intelligent Creatures
Monkeys are smart and can use tools, relevant in discussions about animal intelligence.
Researchers observe how monkeys use stones to crack nuts.
Pro Tip 1/3Not a Pet
Although cute, monkeys are wild animals, not pets, and can be dangerous.
Unlike cats, monkeys should never be kept as pets.
Pro Tip 2/3Habitat Context
Monkeys are often associated with tropical forests and zoos in conversation.
Monkeys thrive in the dense canopy of the Amazon.
Pro Tip 3/3Intelligent Creatures
Monkeys are smart and can use tools, relevant in discussions about animal intelligence.
Researchers observe how monkeys use stones to crack nuts.
Pro Tip 1/3Not a Pet
Although cute, monkeys are wild animals, not pets, and can be dangerous.
Unlike cats, monkeys should never be kept as pets.
Pro Tip 2/3Habitat Context
Monkeys are often associated with tropical forests and zoos in conversation.
Monkeys thrive in the dense canopy of the Amazon.
Pro Tip 3/3Intelligent Creatures
Monkeys are smart and can use tools, relevant in discussions about animal intelligence.
Researchers observe how monkeys use stones to crack nuts.
Never forget "Monkey"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
Should Primates be Kept...
They've seen others that have got these monkeys as pets and they think, Oh, well, I can have a monkey as a pet. What impact does being kept as a pet have on the primate? They can suffer both physically and psychologically. These abnormal behaviours that they have are life long. And is it right that you can even own one in the first place?
Video examples
What is love? - Brad...
to how we raise kids. Thus, some argue that the feeling you think you feel in your soul is just biology's way to make you continue our species. Nature has selected you to have crushes on hotties, just like it makes monkeys have crushes on hot monkeys, and biology marches on.
Video examples
Laurie Santos: How...
So now we faced, you know, a little bit of a problem here. How are we actually going to ask monkeys about money if they don't actually use it? So we said, well, maybe we should just, actually just suck it up and teach monkeys how to use money. So that's just what we did.
Video examples
The Spider Monkeys of...
monkey will and could affect the entire ecosystem? Yes, definitely. That is why it's also so important to to protect them. So you've sent us a little clip of what you get up to in your day to day life. So let's take a little look at that.
Video examples
Howler Monkeys PIPE...
animals can make a sound that's like a combination air-raid siren and heavy metal guitar solo the fact is howler monkeys are considered to be among the loudest animals on earth well you be the judge
Video examples
A Collection Of Wild...
clear water yeah and have monkeys i know it's such a bizarre sight you know i've filmed primates all over the world but there's nowhere that it's like this you know there's nowhere where they're
Video examples
Animals Being Bros PIPE BBC...
And you’re being such a gentleman. I'm very proud of you. They are getting on so well. You know, monkeys are into everything. And now that we have two fold monkeys there's going to be no peace.
Video examples
Botfly Larvae Removed...
some of these wild animals come to the vet's attention a family of howler monkeys visits the centre every day helping themselves to leftovers
Video examples
Designing urban spaces...
cities deal with water like the monkey hole food in it she unconsciously is it this park is the place to hold the
Video examples
Parenthood Is Tough For...
this miniature world has it's very own miniature squirrel sized monkey a golden
Video examples
Should Primates be Kept...
They've seen others that have got these monkeys as pets and they think, Oh, well, I can have a monkey as a pet. What impact does being kept as a pet have on the primate? They can suffer both physically and psychologically. These abnormal behaviours that they have are life long. And is it right that you can even own one in the first place?
Video examples
What is love? - Brad...
to how we raise kids. Thus, some argue that the feeling you think you feel in your soul is just biology's way to make you continue our species. Nature has selected you to have crushes on hotties, just like it makes monkeys have crushes on hot monkeys, and biology marches on.
Video examples
Laurie Santos: How...
So now we faced, you know, a little bit of a problem here. How are we actually going to ask monkeys about money if they don't actually use it? So we said, well, maybe we should just, actually just suck it up and teach monkeys how to use money. So that's just what we did.
Video examples
The Spider Monkeys of...
monkey will and could affect the entire ecosystem? Yes, definitely. That is why it's also so important to to protect them. So you've sent us a little clip of what you get up to in your day to day life. So let's take a little look at that.
Video examples
Howler Monkeys PIPE...
animals can make a sound that's like a combination air-raid siren and heavy metal guitar solo the fact is howler monkeys are considered to be among the loudest animals on earth well you be the judge
Video examples
A Collection Of Wild...
clear water yeah and have monkeys i know it's such a bizarre sight you know i've filmed primates all over the world but there's nowhere that it's like this you know there's nowhere where they're
Video examples
Animals Being Bros PIPE BBC...
And you’re being such a gentleman. I'm very proud of you. They are getting on so well. You know, monkeys are into everything. And now that we have two fold monkeys there's going to be no peace.
Video examples
Botfly Larvae Removed...
some of these wild animals come to the vet's attention a family of howler monkeys visits the centre every day helping themselves to leftovers
Video examples
Designing urban spaces...
cities deal with water like the monkey hole food in it she unconsciously is it this park is the place to hold the
Video examples
Parenthood Is Tough For...
this miniature world has it's very own miniature squirrel sized monkey a golden
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Zach Galifianakis
American Actor
Comedians paint ourselves into corners all the time, and tastes in comedy change. The guy in 'The Hangover' was a really fun character to do, and it was easy to do. But you have to find other things because audiences will let you do that for a little bit, and then they're like, 'What else do you have for us, monkey?
Quote examples
Kevin-Prince Boateng
German Athlete
I could hear from the crowd some monkey noises, and this went on for about 25 minutes. Every time I touched the ball, I could hear the crowd. I said to myself, 'In this kind of environment, in this situation, I don't want to play football anymore.
Quote examples
Jay Reatard
American Musician
During the writing process, I tend not to listen to too much music. I obviously wear a lot of influences on my sleeve, but if I was listening to too many records, I would turn into too much of a monkey.
Quote examples
Dani Shapiro
American Author
The mind is a monkey, hopping around from thought to thought, image to image. Rarely do more than a few seconds go by in which the mind can remain single-pointed, empty.
Quote examples
Fred Willard
American Comedian
I saw the 'Wizard of Oz' recently and realized that, all my life, I thought they were real monkeys with wings. That's how scary that movie was for me.
Quote examples
Harland Williams
Canadian Actor
I think life would be so much funnier if every day you saw someone walking down the street getting hit in the head by a monkey, don't you?
Quote examples
Franz Grillparzer
Austrian Poet
Poetry, it is often said and loudly so, is life's true mirror. But a monkey looking into a work of literature looks in vain for Socrates.
Quote examples
Henry James
American Writer
Cats and monkeys; monkeys and cats; all human life is there.
Quote examples
Jimi Hendrix
American Musician
I got a pet monkey called Charlie Chan.
Quote examples
Ben Bradlee
American Editor
You never monkey with the truth.
Quote examples
Zach Galifianakis
American Actor
Comedians paint ourselves into corners all the time, and tastes in comedy change. The guy in 'The Hangover' was a really fun character to do, and it was easy to do. But you have to find other things because audiences will let you do that for a little bit, and then they're like, 'What else do you have for us, monkey?
Quote examples
Kevin-Prince Boateng
German Athlete
I could hear from the crowd some monkey noises, and this went on for about 25 minutes. Every time I touched the ball, I could hear the crowd. I said to myself, 'In this kind of environment, in this situation, I don't want to play football anymore.
Quote examples
Jay Reatard
American Musician
During the writing process, I tend not to listen to too much music. I obviously wear a lot of influences on my sleeve, but if I was listening to too many records, I would turn into too much of a monkey.
Quote examples
Dani Shapiro
American Author
The mind is a monkey, hopping around from thought to thought, image to image. Rarely do more than a few seconds go by in which the mind can remain single-pointed, empty.
Quote examples
Fred Willard
American Comedian
I saw the 'Wizard of Oz' recently and realized that, all my life, I thought they were real monkeys with wings. That's how scary that movie was for me.
Quote examples
Harland Williams
Canadian Actor
I think life would be so much funnier if every day you saw someone walking down the street getting hit in the head by a monkey, don't you?
Quote examples
Franz Grillparzer
Austrian Poet
Poetry, it is often said and loudly so, is life's true mirror. But a monkey looking into a work of literature looks in vain for Socrates.
Quote examples
Henry James
American Writer
Cats and monkeys; monkeys and cats; all human life is there.
Quote examples
Jimi Hendrix
American Musician
I got a pet monkey called Charlie Chan.
Quote examples
Ben Bradlee
American Editor
You never monkey with the truth.
Example 1 of 10
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension