croak

American  

[krohk] / kroʊk /

verb (used without object)

1. to utter a low-pitched, harsh cry, as the sound of a frog or a raven.

2. to speak with a low, rasping voice.

3. Slang. to die.

4. to talk despondingly; prophesy trouble or evil; grumble.

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verb (used with object)

1. to utter or announce by croaking.

2. Slang. to kill.

noun

1. the act or sound of croaking.

croak British  

/ krəʊk /

verb

1. (intr) (of frogs, crows, etc) to make a low, hoarse cry

2. to utter (something) in this manner

   he croaked out the news

3. (intr) to grumble or be pessimistic

4. slang

   1. (intr) to die

   2. (tr) to kill

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noun

1. a low hoarse utterance or sound

Other Word Forms

• croakily adverb
• croakiness noun
• croaky adjective

Etymology

Origin of croak

1550–60; earlier croke, probably imitative; compare Old English cræcetian (of a raven) to croak

Explanation

A croak is the low, hoarse sound a frog makes. Crows and people with sore throats can croak, too. It’s also a slang word for “die.” When people croak, they need either a glass of water or an undertaker. Croak is a noun or a verb. A bullfrog’s croak can be very loud. A parched cowboy might croak, “howdy.” Another meaning of the word is "die," as in, "I'm sorry your hamster's dead, but you knew he was going to croak soon.” This kind of croak came from the popular idea that people make a distinctive sound just before they die, a "death rattle." Now there’s something to look forward to!

Example Sentences

There’s a wicked irony in micromanaging your entire life on Earth only to croak and have your soul potentially jettisoned to some formless state of being, entirely unknown to mere mortals.

From Salon • Nov. 27, 2025

Purdue, unlike Virginia, which lost by 20, kept a lukewarm hope into the closing minute, only to see it croak in disarray and send the Knights in blue charging and dancing onto the floor.

From Washington Post • Mar. 17, 2023

“It was ravaged but always in key,” he says of Lanegan’s signature croak.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 8, 2022

The cry of adults is more like the croak of a frog or the sound of a weed wacker that won’t quite start than that of a songbird, she said.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 15, 2022

I answered Mom with a croak, my mouth not working quite right yet.

From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam