shout
Americanverb (used without object)
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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.
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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
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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
Related Words
See cry.
Other Word Forms
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.
Supporters, who were warned not to speak to the defendants, shout slogans or express personal opinions, waved and smiled as the court was adjourned.
From Barron's • May 18, 2026
The funniest moment comes when quarterback Dak Prescott enters the room and immediately gets pelted by paper cups as his teammates shout, “Tylers only!”
From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2026
"I'm not a very angry person but it felt good to scream and shout," she says.
From BBC • May 2, 2026
In early hip-hop and dance music, Mr. Gibbs heard echoes of the shuffling feet and handclaps of a ring shout, the communal spiritual ritual in which enslaved Africans used their own bodies as instruments.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026
He didn't know whether to shout with relief—or clobber Specimen for causing him so much worry.
From "Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher" by Bruce Coville
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.
