shout
Americanverb (used without object)
-
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)
-
to utter or yell (something) loudly.
-
Australian. to treat (another) to a drink, meal, amusement, or the like.
noun
-
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:
"As soon as I heard the neighbour shout, and saw Joanne standing up, I fled the scene and away towards the skate park."
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
Buc-ee’s has a legion of loyal fans, who come for the Beaver Nuggets, sparkling restrooms and the novelty of its massive stores, where workers shout when they slice up steaming brisket.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026
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
Strong Jonn, cradling Rowan in his huge arms, gave a shout of grief.
From "Rowan of Rin" by Emily Rodda
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
There were shouts of treason, but Gen. Washington intervened on Willing’s behalf, calling him a “worthy, well-disposed man.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 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
"Turn around, turn around, turn around!" he shouts at the top of his lungs to encourage them to run in circles.
From Barron's ● Jun. 30, 2026
The shouts of the frazzled-looking teacher trying to get the little kids to stop throwing food.
From "I Survived the Great Alaska Earthquake, 1964" by Lauren Tarshis
It was shouted by Joe Biden as he visited his ancestral home in Ballina.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
Chey offered to pay everybody’s tab at the packed restaurant, and the crowd shouted “SK! SK!”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
“We won’t be getting those voters,” the woman shouted into the microphone.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
Slogans were also shouted inside the lower house by the opposition benches, demanding the resignation of the education minister and justice for students.
From Barron's ● Jul. 20, 2026
“Grandpa,” I shouted as I darted through the door, “that paint pony has a bad cut on its leg.”
From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls
Migrants have shown social media posts to reporters with people shouting that "Spain is Open" and jumping into the sea.
From BBC ● Aug. 2, 2026
Wow, this thing is dead quiet, I thought; and why is my inner voice shouting?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 1, 2026
The video showed dozens of people following a black SUV past my home in Minneapolis, blowing whistles and shouting.
From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026
Scenes of players screaming and shouting with excitement on the official opening day for 11-man high school football practices on Monday might be hard to find.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2026
Father is shouting, but for me, his mouth makes no sound.
From "Will’s Race for Home" by Jewell Parker Rhodes
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.
