squawk
Americanverb (used without object)
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squawks,
present (3rd person singular)
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squawked,
past participle, past
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squawking
present participle
verb (used with object)
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squawks,
present (3rd person singular)
-
squawked,
past participle, past
-
squawking
present participle
noun
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squawks
plural
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a loud, harsh cry or sound.
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Informal. a loud, vehement complaint.
-
the black-crowned night heron. night heron
noun
-
a loud raucous cry; screech
-
informal a loud complaint or protest
verb
-
to utter a squawk or with a squawk
-
informal (intr) to complain loudly
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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squawksimple
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squawkssimple
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have squawkedperfect
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has squawkedperfect
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am squawkingprogressive
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are squawkingprogressive
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is squawkingprogressive
-
have been squawkingperfect progressive
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has been squawkingperfect progressive
Past
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squawkedsimple
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had squawkedperfect
-
was squawkingprogressive
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were squawkingprogressive
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had been squawkingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of squawk
Explanation
To squawk is to make a harsh screech, like the sound that a large bird might make. Your pet parrot might squawk until you give her treats to nibble on. The imitative word squawk first appeared in the 1800s, and around 1945, the term squawk box began to be used informally to mean "intercom or loudspeaker." Today, that term is primarily used by investors and brokers to mean "an intercom used to communicate stock deals." In addition to being the sound of an irritated bird, a squawk is also a complaint: "All he does is squawk about how hard his new job is."
Vocabulary lists containing squawk
Instead of "Said": Words That Sound Like What They Mean
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We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball
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Unit 1, Words to Know
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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:
Economists might applaud, but elderly voters will squawk.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 24, 2026
But Mitchell is a team player, so in the end, Rapaport survives to squawk another day and probably complain about life’s unfairness over that evening’s pasta buffet.
From Salon ● Jan. 15, 2026
"It's Americans who are going to squawk," said Prof Hampson.
From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2025
It seems as if everything you’ve described about this class certification is just obviously correct, and I’m trying to figure out what the DOJ is going to squawk about.
From Slate ● Jul. 11, 2025
My panic zoomed into high-level terror and I frantically pounded on the door with all my might, screaming in a high-pitched, fervent squawk, “BILLLLYYYYY- YYY!”
From "The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother" by James McBride
On Sunday, after her setback, she squawks half halfheartedly a few times, with the center affirming she’s “brighter.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
A laptop on the center console dings like a supermarket scanner every time license-plate readers attached to the truck capture another car’s tag—and the computer squawks when it spots a possible repo candidate.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2025
The honks and squawks of ibises and louries - shuffling silhouettes in the leafless trees.
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2023
Here, it’s called Stickipoo — and if its robotic squawks and light-saber glow appear on loan from George Lucas, that’s only fair.
From New York Times ● Aug. 17, 2023
Everyone jumps a bit as the intercom box on the wall squawks to life and we hear the high-pitched voice of Mrs. Dithers, the administrative assistant.
From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell
Airnav Radar reported that the BA Airbus A321 squawked the 7700 emergency code, which is used when there are mechanical or technical problems on board aircraft.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
Some of them squawked about the slush fund in ways that took me by surprise.
From Slate ● Jun. 9, 2026
Parrots and macaws that had outlived their owners squawked in a giant aviary.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 2, 2026
Molting peacocks squawked in the distance and a Pacific breeze whispered through the eucalyptus as flamingo keeper Liz Gibbons tidied her station at the San Francisco Zoo.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 18, 2025
Sumac bobbed his head and squawked his general happiness, then fluttered to the ground and began eating the food from my dish.
From "The Ugly One" by Leanne Statland Ellis
Who can blame the infant, even one so tender and mild, for squawking during his circumcision?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 26, 2026
In the ocean-side city of Gloucester, about an hour north of Boston, the sharp smell of salt air has been undercut by the lingering funk of rotting garbage, and squawking seagulls circle overhead.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2025
Massive winter waves exploded against rocks, sea lions barked and squawking gulls joined the symphony.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 28, 2024
Massry runs from the front of the store to the back, walkie-talkie on his waist squawking as employees request help at the registers.
From Slate ● Oct. 26, 2024
“Half the Merchant Council was down there flapping and squawking, trying to figure out what to do.”
From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
