squeak

American  

[skweek] / skwik /

noun

1. a short, sharp, shrill cry; a sharp, high-pitched sound.

2. Informal. opportunity; chance.

   their last squeak to correct the manuscript.

3. an escape from defeat, danger, death, or destruction (usually qualified by narrow orclose ).

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verb (used without object)

1. to utter or emit a squeak or squeaky sound.

2. Slang. to confess or turn informer; squeal.

verb (used with object)

1. to utter or sound with a squeak or squeaks.

verb phrase

1. squeak by / through to succeed, survive, pass, win, etc., by a very narrow margin.

   They can barely squeak by on their income. The team managed to squeak through.

squeak British  

/ skwiːk /

noun

1. a short shrill cry or high-pitched sound

2. informal an escape (esp in the phrases narrow squeak , near squeak )

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verb

1. to make or cause to make a squeak

2. (intr; usually foll by through or by) to pass with only a narrow margin

   to squeak through an examination

3. informal (intr) to confess information about oneself or another

4. (tr) to utter with a squeak

Other Word Forms

• squeaker noun
• squeakily adverb
• squeakiness noun
• squeakingly adverb
• squeaky adjective

Etymology

Origin of squeak

1350–1400; Middle English squeken, perhaps < Scandinavian; compare Swedish skväka to croak

Explanation

To squeak is to make a high, short sound. Your hungry pet mice squeak for food, and your creaky old wood floors squeak when you walk across them. A door with rusty hinges will squeak when you open it, and your own voice may squeak when you're nervous. There are also the squeaks that small animals make, and the squeak that means "any communication," like when you don't hear a squeak from your next door neighbor for so long you wonder if he moved away. Informally, to "squeak by" or "squeak through" means to just barely achieve something, by a narrow margin.

Example Sentences

A wild possum joined stuffed furry friends in an Australian airport gift shop this week, surprising travellers in an adorable case of hide and squeak.

From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026

Then Vahid hears the telltale squeak of Peg Leg’s prosthetic leg.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 17, 2026

Maye just managed to squeak by the understaffed Broncos and their backup QB.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 5, 2026

He is buoyant and thinks that in a tight tussle with Reform UK, he can squeak a win.

From BBC • Oct. 21, 2025

I opened my mouth to scream, but the only sound that escaped was a nervous squeak.

From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas

Related Words

• creak
• screech
• squeal