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)
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to utter or yell (something) loudly.
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Australian. to treat (another) to a drink, meal, amusement, or the like.
noun
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a loud call or cry.
He gave a shout for help.
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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
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informal
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a round, esp of drinks
-
one's turn to buy a round of drinks
-
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informal a greeting (to family, friends, etc) sent to a radio station for broadcasting
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informal an occasion on which the members of an emergency service are called out on duty
verb
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to utter (something) in a loud cry; yell
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(intr) to make a loud noise
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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
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shoutsimple
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shoutssimple
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have shoutedperfect
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has shoutedperfect
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am shoutingprogressive
-
are shoutingprogressive
-
is shoutingprogressive
-
have been shoutingperfect progressive
-
has been shoutingperfect progressive
Past
-
shoutedsimple
-
had shoutedperfect
-
was shoutingprogressive
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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.
He began to shout and call for help, and finally, he heard a response.
From Barron's • Jul. 5, 2026
A crazed newscaster prompts his viewers to do a wild thing: open their windows and shout, “I’m as mad as hell and I’m not going to take this anymore.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 29, 2026
Band leader Jurin shouts "Hesono", and the other members reply with a loud shout of "Oh", flinging their arms towards the sky.
From BBC • Jun. 19, 2026
"It doesn't necessarily shout 'I'm an England supporter' with a number seven on the back."
From BBC • Jun. 17, 2026
Razi ignored him and continued to shout for Shifa and Zheng.
From "The Boy Who Met a Whale" by Nizrana Farook
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.
