scream

[ skreem ]

/ skrim /

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See synonyms for: scream / screamed / screaming / screams on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object)

to utter a loud, sharp, piercing cry.

to emit a shrill, piercing sound: The sirens and whistles screamed.

to laugh immoderately or uncontrollably: The comedian had the audience screaming.

to shout or speak shrilly, especially with harsh or exaggerated words: They screamed across the back fence.

to play or sing in a high, loud, harsh manner.

to be conspicuous or startling: That red dress really screams.

verb (used with object)

to utter with or as if with a scream or screams.

to make by screaming: to scream oneself hoarse.

noun

a loud, sharp, piercing cry: Her scream frightened off the burglar.

a shrill, piercing sound: the scream of the tires as the car rounded the curve.

Informal. someone or something that is hilariously funny: The movie was a scream.

OTHER WORDS FOR scream

9 outcry, shriek, screech, screak.

See synonyms for scream on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of scream

First recorded in 1150–1200; 1905–10 for def. 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” (see screech

synonym study for scream

1. 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.

OTHER WORDS FROM scream

outscream, verb (used with object)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use scream in a sentence

His mother called him into another room, and off camera, police said yelling could be heard, followed by a boy’s scream.
After mother, partner are charged in toddler’s death, D.C. police say siblings were also abused|Peter Hermann|November 11, 2020|Washington Post
And as he adjusted to this change in circumstances, he screamed at himself a second time: Wait!
Powerful Congressman Writes About ‘Fleshy Breasts’|Asawin Suebsaeng|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Inside two women screamed in front of a bed that occupied the center of the room.
I Shot Bin Laden|Elliot Ackerman|November 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The look was subtle, sweet and screamed “au natural”—even though she paid $75 for the topper.
Flower Crowns Are Phony and Must Die|Sara Lieberman|September 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST

In another, a woman swore at the reclining passenger in front of her and screamed for the pilot to “put this plane down.”
Solution to Seat Rage: No More Reclining|Will Doig|September 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Fleeing residents screamed and moments later an ambulance sped toward the billowing smoke.
Palestinians Fleeing Israeli Bombardment in Gaza Have ‘Nowhere Left to Run’|Jesse Rosenfeld|July 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She sat straight up in bed, and jerked her hands to her head, and screamed long and terribly.
The Homesteader|Oscar Micheaux
Feeling himself irresistibly driven by the sudden stress to some kind of action, he sprang to his feet—and screamed!
Three More John Silence Stories|Algernon Blackwood
Paris might have screamed; he would not have swerved a hair's breadth till he had gripped the Golden Horn.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
Pigeon screamed again, but a hearty laugh from Chew-chew showed there was nothing to fear.
The Later Cave-Men|Katharine Elizabeth Dopp
Occasionally he screamed an order to his chum, who signaled with his hand that he heard and understood.
The Girls of Central High on the Stage|Gertrude W. Morrison

British Dictionary definitions for scream

scream

/ (skriːm) /

verb

to utter or emit (a sharp piercing cry or similar sound or sounds), esp as of fear, pain, etc

(intr) to laugh wildly

(intr) to speak, shout, or behave in a wild or impassioned manner

(tr) to bring (oneself) into a specified state by screamingshe screamed herself hoarse

(intr) to be extremely conspicuousthese orange curtains scream, you need more restful colours in a bedroom

noun

a sharp piercing cry or sound, esp one denoting fear or pain

informal a person or thing that causes great amusement

Word Origin for scream

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

scream

OTHER WORDS FOR scream

Origin of scream

synonym study for scream

OTHER WORDS FROM scream

Words related to scream

How to use scream in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for scream

Word Origin for scream