scream

[ skreem ]

verb (used without object)

1. to utter a loud, sharp, piercing cry.
2. to emit a shrill, piercing sound:

   The sirens and whistles screamed.

3. to laugh immoderately or uncontrollably:

   The comedian had the audience screaming.

4. to shout or speak shrilly, especially with harsh or exaggerated words:

   They screamed across the back fence.

5. to play or sing in a high, loud, harsh manner.
6. to be conspicuous or startling:

   That red dress really screams.

verb (used with object)

1. to utter with or as if with a loud, piercing cry:

   His patience exhausted, he screamed the instructions to the class.

2. to bring (oneself) to a specified condition by loud and shrill shouts or cries:

   We screamed ourselves hoarse at the concert.

noun

1. a loud, sharp, piercing cry:

   Her scream frightened off the burglar.

   Synonyms: screak, screech, shriek, outcry

2. a shrill, piercing sound:

   the scream of the tires as the car rounded the curve.

3. Informal. someone or something that is hilariously funny:

   The movie was a scream.

scream

/ skriːm /

verb

1. to utter or emit (a sharp piercing cry or similar sound or sounds), esp as of fear, pain, etc
2. intr to laugh wildly
3. intr to speak, shout, or behave in a wild or impassioned manner
4. tr to bring (oneself) into a specified state by screaming

   she screamed herself hoarse

5. intr to be extremely conspicuous

   these orange curtains scream, you need more restful colours in a bedroom

noun

1. a sharp piercing cry or sound, esp one denoting fear or pain
2. informal.
   a person or thing that causes great amusement

Other Words From

• out·scream verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of scream¹

First recorded in 1150–1200; 1905–10 scream fordef 11; Middle English screamen (verb), (unattested) Old English scrǣman; akin to Old Norse skraumi “chatterbox, braggart,” skruma “to jabber”; sc- (for regular sh- as in Middle English shreame ) from obsolete scritch “to screech” ( screech

Word History and Origins

Origin of scream¹

C13: from Germanic; compare Middle Dutch schreem, West Frisian skrieme to weep

Synonym Study

Scream, shriek, screech apply to crying out in a loud, piercing way. To scream is to utter a loud, piercing cry, especially of pain, fear, anger, or excitement: to scream with terror. The word is used also for a little, barely audible cry given by one who is startled. Shriek usually refers to a sharper and briefer cry than scream; when caused by fear or pain, it is often indicative of more terror or distress; shriek is also used for shrill uncontrolled cries: to shriek with laughter. Screech emphasizes disagreeable shrillness and harshness, often with a connotation of lack of dignity: to screech approval at a rock concert.

Example Sentences

Whenever she scored a point, she’d emit a victory scream, probably feeling a rush of pleasure.

From Nautilus

Then Fanone began to scream the high-pitched, undignified screams of a man being tased in the back of the neck.

From Time

Some are capable of detecting human screams, some can remain airborne for at 24 hours, while some can roll across the ground and take flight.

From Popular-Science

Rescue workers have reason to be interested in the drone that hunts for screams.

From Popular-Science

So I think we have to be ready to tolerate and remain firm in the face of these screams of outrage about high marginal tax rates and just insist that, listen, we are the citizens in this country.

From MIT Technology Review

People scream, the orchestra stops playing, and the stage manager whisks the diva into the wings.

From The Daily Beast

Available at Amazon Vince Camuto Moto Baseball Cap, $34 Baseball caps may be useful on the road, but they scream “tourist!”

From The Daily Beast

De la Renta was a confident thoroughbred, never needing to scream for attention.

From The Daily Beast

Sadly, no one helps him, opting instead to scream and run—but can you blame them?

From The Daily Beast

A whimpering, half-growl and curdled scream, a cornered-animal cry of a sound.

From The Daily Beast

Miss Christabel blushed furiously and emitted a sound half between a laugh and a scream.

From Project Gutenberg

"Now, you say you heard your sister scream," said the lawyer after the usual formalities had passed.

From Project Gutenberg

Now Mrs. Glavis, do you recall having ever heard your sister scream before in a like manner?

From Project Gutenberg

And suddenly Hicks jerked up his knees and heaved himself bodily aside with a scream of fear.

From Project Gutenberg

Here on the bridge he paused and turned in a frenzy to scream to his followers that they should fetch more torches.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• blare
• holler
• howl
• roar
• screech
• shout
• shriek
• squeal
• wail
• yell