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
-
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:
This so riled the Cuban foreign minister and his subordinates that they marched all the way to the stage to shout and harangue.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026
“Go West, fellow investor!” they shout, as they short California and buy the East.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 22, 2026
The audience appears to hang on her every word, shout and moan, erupting in explosive applause as she utters the play’s last lines, arms extended ecstatically to the crowd.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2026
When Mayor Zohran Mamdani appeared at the vigil, the protesters began to shout at him:
From Slate ● Oct. 15, 2026
Her voice was quiet, like a mouse trying to shout behind a plaster wall.
From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova
While one fan shouts criticism at an official’s call at Mira Costa High, Grandma and Grandpa Reis calmly and confidently root for their grandsons, Christian, a running back, and Weston, a linebacker.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2026
There are shouts of panic from the Palestinian farmers, yelling for children to get out of the field.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
Wedged in the tiny space between irrelevancy and timeliness, Sorkin’s companion piece doesn’t need to say anything new to do its job; it only has to persuade us to pay attention to its shouts.
From Salon ● Oct. 11, 2026
“Hands up, Winston!” someone shouts in a YouTube video of the fight.
From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026
Dalton shouts with a thunderclap like he’s the Incredible Hulk.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Protesters shouted "Smells like a dictatorship", while police said some hurled bottles, fireworks and paint at officers as officers tried to take down the tents.
From Barron's ● Nov. 1, 2026
Debotte told the court she shouted "bike" three times, but Richardson made no attempt to slow down or brake before the Volvo smashed into the left side of the cyclist.
From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026
“This is America, my friend,” Waltz shouted, tapping his fingers for emphasis.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026
"Maria, if you come back, my daughter has to come back!" a supporter shouted at her on Sunday, referring to one of the millions of Venezuelans who have fled repression and a moribund economy.
From Barron's ● Oct. 26, 2026
I took hold of Black Star's rope and shouted, "Let's go!"
From "Black Star, Bright Dawn" by Scott O'Dell
Both the shouting and the cellphone episodes took place inside the U.N.’s famous General Assembly Hall but at different locations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026
The two would explode in shouting matches over strategy, while other union leaders shrank from the room.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026
Shortly after the alleged attack, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told ABC television that there had been a "rise in temperature" and "too much shouting, not enough discourse" in Australia.
From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2026
The disruption lasted about a minute in total, during which the person, who could not be heard well over the livestream, continued shouting.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 21, 2026
As the people drew closer, Rowan could hear that they were cheering, shouting, laughing with joy.
From "Rowan of Rin" by Emily Rodda
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