shout
Americanverb (used without object)
-
to call or cry out loudly and vigorously.
- Synonyms:
- exclaim, vociferate, yell
- Antonyms:
- whisper
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to speak or laugh noisily or unrestrainedly.
verb (used with object)
-
to utter or yell (something) loudly.
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Australian. to treat (another) to a drink, meal, amusement, or the like.
noun
-
a loud call or cry.
He gave a shout for help.
-
a sudden loud outburst, as of laughter.
-
the act of calling or crying out loudly.
noun
-
a loud cry, esp to convey emotion or a command
-
informal
-
a round, esp of drinks
-
one's turn to buy a round of drinks
-
-
informal a greeting (to family, friends, etc) sent to a radio station for broadcasting
-
informal an occasion on which the members of an emergency service are called out on duty
verb
-
to utter (something) in a loud cry; yell
-
(intr) to make a loud noise
-
informal (tr) to treat (someone) to (something), esp a drink
Synonym Usage
See cry.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
shoutsimple
-
shoutssimple
-
have shoutedperfect
-
has shoutedperfect
-
am shoutingprogressive
-
are shoutingprogressive
-
is shoutingprogressive
-
have been shoutingperfect progressive
-
has been shoutingperfect progressive
Past
-
shoutedsimple
-
had shoutedperfect
-
was shoutingprogressive
-
were shoutingprogressive
-
had been shoutingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of shout
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English shoute (noun), shouten (verb); compare Old Norse skūta “to scold, chide,” skūti, skūta “a taunt”
Explanation
When you shout, you speak or call out loudly. If you get trapped in the coat closet during a game of hide-and-seek, just shout for help — you'll be set free, but you'll also be "it." Sometimes people shout simply because they have a booming speaking voice; you might hold your phone far from your ear when you call your grandma, who tends to shout. You can also shout in anger or fear or even joy: "My cousin jumped up with a happy shout when I surprised him at his birthday party." Experts disagree on the origin of shout, but some guess it's connected to shoot, as in "throw the voice out loudly."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
"As soon as I heard the neighbour shout, and saw Joanne standing up, I fled the scene and away towards the skate park."
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
Stewart brandished his baton and was heard to shout "Murray Boys".
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
Buc-ee’s has a legion of loyal fans, who come for the Beaver Nuggets, sparkling restrooms and the novelty of its massive stores, where workers shout when they slice up steaming brisket.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026
He began to shout and call for help, and finally, he heard a response.
From Barron's ● Jul. 5, 2026
I shout so loud it hurts my throat.
From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas
He received a hero’s welcome in Hostage Square in Tel Aviv after forging a tenuous Gaza ceasefire last October, visibly moved as he was drowned out by appreciative shouts of “Thank you, Witkoff!”
From Slate ● Jul. 22, 2026
There were shouts of treason, but Gen. Washington intervened on Willing’s behalf, calling him a “worthy, well-disposed man.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
The crowd grew even louder when Lineage Chief Operating Officer Jeff Rivera took to the stage and was met with shouts of “Liar!”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
Drills can be heard piercing the cement until someone shouts "Silence!" with a raised fist.
From Barron's ● Jul. 4, 2026
It was hard to hear his faint voice above the roar of the fire, the shouts of the men, and the snorting of the horses.
From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson
“Go go go go go go! Lower the life raft, and get dressed quickly!” someone shouted in a combination of Chinese and English.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
As Lewis left court, the family of Ross brandished a framed photograph the dead woman, and shouted at him: "Darcy Ross, remember her name."
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
Questions about her priorities as a mom have been whispered and shouted, so without hesitation, she answers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026
Several hundred protesters shouted slogans hostile to US policies in the Middle East and tried to get close to the yacht, guarded by masked police officers, local media footage showed.
From Barron's ● Jul. 17, 2026
I walked down the line of dogs and shouted again.
From "Black Star, Bright Dawn" by Scott O'Dell
Supporters packed the streets in front of stadiums shouting down the idea.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
She recalled shouting "it better not be my dad in there" when she first heard about the police investigation.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
The video showed dozens of people following a black SUV past my home in Minneapolis, blowing whistles and shouting.
From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026
Scenes of players screaming and shouting with excitement on the official opening day for 11-man high school football practices on Monday might be hard to find.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2026
It is nice to have a quiet place to go, because now that a lot of the guys are back, there’s always shouting.
From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
