squeal
Americannoun
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a somewhat prolonged, sharp, shrill cry, as of pain, fear, or surprise.
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Slang.
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an instance of informing against someone.
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a protest or complaint; beef.
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verb (used without object)
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to utter or emit a squeal or squealing sound.
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Slang.
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to turn informer; inform.
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to protest or complain; beef.
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verb (used with object)
noun
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a high shrill yelp, as of pain
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a screaming sound, as of tyres when a car brakes suddenly
verb
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to utter a squeal or with a squeal
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slang (intr) to confess information about another
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informal (intr) to complain or protest loudly
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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squealsimple
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squealssimple
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have squealedperfect
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has squealedperfect
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am squealingprogressive
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are squealingprogressive
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is squealingprogressive
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have been squealingperfect progressive
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has been squealingperfect progressive
Past
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squealedsimple
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had squealedperfect
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was squealingprogressive
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were squealingprogressive
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had been squealingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of squeal
1250–1300; Middle English squelen; imitative
Explanation
To squeal is to make a sharp, high-pitched cry, the way a piglet squeals or the excited way your little sister will squeal when she sees the huge birthday cake you made for her. Grab a piglet by the tail and you'll hear a squeal. You can also bring a bunch of puppies to a kindergarten class to hear a lot of kids squeal in delight. Squeal is an imitative word, one that came from the sound it describes, similar to skvala, or "cry out" in Old Norse, and the English squall, "to cry out loudly."
Vocabulary lists containing squeal
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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:
And as “Blow Out” reminds us, all it takes to be pulled into this vicious riptide is the squeal of a shot-out tire skidding against the asphalt.
From Salon ● Jul. 4, 2026
“It had to be a sound that would stay in the mind of the audience,” Panahi explains, noting he went through several different sound effects until landing on the right mechanical squeal.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 17, 2026
When they get their money, they run madly for the exits, bowling over anyone in their path, and they squeal away in their cars, leaving tire tracks on the road.
From Slate ● Nov. 15, 2025
The word “try” is banned—if a student says it, Lee lets out a squeal so loud that the teaching assistant on the other side of the wall can hear it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2025
They throw their hands up and squeal, and there I am, smiling on the inside.
From "Like Vanessa" by Tami Charles
The squeals from the crowd take us back to the 1940s, but the quality of the music itself is timeless.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2025
The noises are energizing: tire squeals, engine rumbles and a hip soundtrack once it gets past the classic rock standards.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2025
"These crows rise early and interrupt our sleep with their annoying squeals and cawing," Mombasa resident Victor Kimuli told the BBC.
From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2024
"I've lowered my standards and my expectations," she squeals whilst buying art and riding in bumper cars.
From Salon ● May 26, 2024
Squirrels skitter at each other outside the open window, and squeals of “You’re it!” from kids visiting with their parents swallow the silence.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
Lindsie was estranged from her family for years over their suspicion that she had squealed to state and federal officials.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 26, 2026
Picking up best pop act, Dean squealed "no way" and added: "Pop music is kind of confusing. I don't really know what it means but I think it's about togetherness and making people feel good."
From BBC ● Feb. 28, 2026
Luca Rodríguez, a 20-year-old law student, said outside Milei’s headquarters after spraying a bottle of champagne into the air onto those around him, who squealed with glee.
From Washington Times ● Nov. 19, 2023
Maggie sped up the video, and the kids squealed in delight.
From Slate ● Mar. 25, 2023
I winced as two of the fetterlings squealed.
From "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia
Another gawked in horror as a squealing toddler tore through the store while their mom examined the chocolate moon rocks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 14, 2026
"It woke my kids up from the bedroom upstairs and one of them said they thought they could hear a pig squealing because of the noise I was making," she added.
From BBC ● Dec. 17, 2024
The farmers and miners got to hear the most intoxicating music on Earth from brassy cornet players and driving saxophonists, exotic trombone mutes, squealing trumpets and sultry clarinets.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 8, 2024
The music layers stately chamber-pop with heaving, squealing noise, then eases toward folky resignation.
From New York Times ● Feb. 16, 2024
And then Dziusia is squealing in her father’s arms while everyone tries to shush her.
From "The Light in Hidden Places" by Sharon Cameron
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.
