scream

[skreem]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR scream 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.

Origin of scream

1150–1200; 1905–10 for def 11; Middle English screamen (v.), 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

Related formsout·scream, verb (used with object)

Synonyms for scream

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR scream ON THESAURUS.COM

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. 9. outcry, shriek, screech, screak.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for screamed

wail, roar, screech, blare, shout, holler, yell, shriek, howl, squeal, bellow, jar, bawl, caterwaul, yowl, voice, shrill, screak, yip

Examples from the Web for screamed

Contemporary Examples of screamed

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
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
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
I spent a lot of time inside that shelter with Hannah, while the rest of her crew ran, and screamed, and died.
When Fiery Fact Imitates Fiction: A Deadly Arizona Fire Mirrored One Writer’s Novel
Michael Koryta
June 9, 2014
During a Patroons playoff game, Richardson had screamed profanities and a gay slur at hecklers.
Mark Cuban Warns That Basketball Players Could Get the Sterling Treatment Next
Evan Weiner
June 3, 2014

Historical Examples of screamed

Madame Gurard screamed when she saw these new guests arrive.
My Double Life
Sarah Bernhardt
I had, of course, a very bad stomach-ache, and screamed out in pain.
My Double Life
Sarah Bernhardt
He blew the whistle shrilly, then folded it back and screamed down.
The Cruise of the Dry Dock
T. S. Stribling
He screamed and kicked over the chair his foot was balanced on.
The Second Voice
Mann Rubin
She screamed slightly, and sunk back in the carriage as pale as marble.
Graham's Magazine Vol XXXII. No. 5. May 1848
Various

British Dictionary definitions for screamed

scream

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

Word Origin and History for screamed

scream

late 12c., scræmen, of uncertain origin, similar to words in Scandinavian, Dutch, German, and Flemish (cf. Old Norse skræma "to terrify, scare," Swedish scrana "to scream," Dutch schreijen "cry aloud, shriek," Old High German scrian, German schreien "to cry"). Related: Screamed; screaming. Screaming meemies is World War I army slang, originally a soldiers' name for a type of German artillery shell that made a loud noise in flight (from French woman's name Mimi), extended to the battle fatigue caused by long exposure to enemy fire.

scream

mid-15c., from scream (v.).

And (as they say) lamentings heard i' th' Ayre; Strange Schreemes of Death. ["Macbeth," II.iii.61]

Shakespeare's spelling probably reflects "sk-" as spelled in words from Latin (e.g. school); he also has schreene for screen. Slang meaning "something that evokes a cry of laughter" is 1888; screamer in this sense is from 1831.