shout
Americanverb (used without object)
-
shouts,
present (3rd person singular)
-
shouted,
past participle, past
-
shouting
present participle
-
to call or cry out loudly and vigorously.
- Synonyms:
- exclaim, vociferate, yell
- Antonyms:
- whisper
-
to speak or laugh noisily or unrestrainedly.
verb (used with object)
-
shouts,
present (3rd person singular)
-
shouted,
past participle, past
-
shouting
present participle
-
to utter or yell (something) loudly.
-
Australian. to treat (another) to a drink, meal, amusement, or the like.
noun
-
shouts
plural
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a loud call or cry.
He gave a shout for help.
-
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
-
informal
-
a round, esp of drinks
-
one's turn to buy a round of drinks
-
-
informal a greeting (to family, friends, etc) sent to a radio station for broadcasting
-
informal an occasion on which the members of an emergency service are called out on duty
verb
-
to utter (something) in a loud cry; yell
-
(intr) to make a loud noise
-
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
-
shoutsimple
-
shoutssimple
-
have shoutedperfect
-
has shoutedperfect
-
am shoutingprogressive
-
are shoutingprogressive
-
is shoutingprogressive
-
have been shoutingperfect progressive
-
has been shoutingperfect progressive
Past
-
shoutedsimple
-
had shoutedperfect
-
was shoutingprogressive
-
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.
See Examples For:
"She was killed on the street. She had gone to the street for change, to shout 'freedom'," her daughter Mahsa Piraei, who lives outside Iran, told AFP.
From Barron's ● Sep. 16, 2026
"We need to shout out their names," Piraei added.
From Barron's ● Sep. 16, 2026
Linda Cardellini knew something was up when a random stranger would shout “Strawberry Breeze!” as she was crossing the street.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026
There is also an outside shout of him being on penalties, following the departures from Craven Cottage in this window.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
But the following shout wasn’t directed at the cottage.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
In shouts and whispers alike, she made sure people felt valued.
From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2026
Those attending the hour-long event were met by a handful of pro-Palestine protesters, whose shouts were heard during the first part of the event.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
He received a hero’s welcome in Hostage Square in Tel Aviv after forging a tenuous Gaza ceasefire last October, visibly moved as he was drowned out by appreciative shouts of “Thank you, Witkoff!”
From Slate ● Jul. 22, 2026
The fatal shooting of a New York Knicks fan’s dog after her shouts over the team’s thrilling win of the NBA championship is now headed to federal court.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 5, 2026
As the carriage raced into the night, Leah heard the shouts of a rowdy gang following close behind.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
Landry and Howery appeared for photo ops and opened a new, bigger consulate building, as protesters shouted outside.
From Salon ● Sep. 16, 2026
Yet the loud warnings being shouted by some inside the companies themselves are proof that the dangers of proceeding—against a backdrop of almost no regulation—are potentially immense.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026
During the date, Dimoldenberg admitted she would turn around when fans shouted "chicken" at her in the street.
From BBC ● Sep. 5, 2026
Pereira shouted, and pulled out her phone to take a video.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 5, 2026
“Hey! You gotta pay for that!” the soda clerk shouted.
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
At the same time his video appeared on social media, dozens of protesters were gathering outside the home of Szor's parents in central Israel, shouting "You're not welcome here!"
From Barron's ● Sep. 17, 2026
If we only focus on shouting the loudest, nothing will ever change.
From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026
The actor, who presented the award for directing for a comedy series, promptly made himself at home, shouting out, “Donde ‘tan los Latinos?”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 2026
Carson Daly shouting to be heard over an audience of excited adolescents.
From Salon ● Aug. 29, 2026
Chase swam in widening circles for six minutes, shouting Rashawn’s name, listening, then shouting again, ignoring the pain in his shoulder.
From "Storm Runners" by Roland Smith
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.
