scream
Americanverb (used without object)
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screams,
present (3rd person singular)
-
screamed,
past participle, past
-
screaming
present participle
-
to utter a loud, sharp, piercing cry.
-
to emit a shrill, piercing sound.
The sirens and whistles screamed.
-
to laugh immoderately or uncontrollably.
The comedian had the audience screaming.
-
to shout or speak shrilly, especially with harsh or exaggerated words.
They screamed across the back fence.
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to play or sing in a high, loud, harsh manner.
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to be conspicuous or startling.
That red dress really screams.
verb (used with object)
-
screams,
present (3rd person singular)
-
screamed,
past participle, past
-
screaming
present participle
-
to utter with or as if with a loud, piercing cry.
His patience exhausted, he screamed the instructions to the class.
-
to bring (oneself) to a specified condition by loud and shrill shouts or cries.
We screamed ourselves hoarse at the concert.
verb
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to utter or emit (a sharp piercing cry or similar sound or sounds), esp as of fear, pain, etc
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(intr) to laugh wildly
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(intr) to speak, shout, or behave in a wild or impassioned manner
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(tr) to bring (oneself) into a specified state by screaming
she screamed herself hoarse
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(intr) to be extremely conspicuous
these orange curtains scream, you need more restful colours in a bedroom
noun
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a sharp piercing cry or sound, esp one denoting fear or pain
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informal a person or thing that causes great amusement
Synonym Usage
Scream, shriek, screech apply to crying out in a loud, piercing way. To scream is to utter a loud, piercing cry, especially of pain, fear, anger, or excitement: to scream with terror. The word is used also for a little, barely audible cry given by one who is startled. Shriek usually refers to a sharper and briefer cry than scream; when caused by fear or pain, it is often indicative of more terror or distress; shriek is also used for shrill uncontrolled cries: to shriek with laughter. Screech emphasizes disagreeable shrillness and harshness, often with a connotation of lack of dignity: to screech approval at a rock concert.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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screamsimple
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screamssimple
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have screamedperfect
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has screamedperfect
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am screamingprogressive
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are screamingprogressive
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is screamingprogressive
-
have been screamingperfect progressive
-
has been screamingperfect progressive
Past
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screamedsimple
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had screamedperfect
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was screamingprogressive
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were screamingprogressive
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had been screamingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of scream
First recorded in 1150–1200; 1905–10 scream for def. 11; Middle English screamen (verb), (unattested) Old English scrǣman; akin to Old Norse skraumi “chatterbox, braggart,” skruma “to jabber”; sc- (for regular sh- as in Middle English shreame ) from obsolete scritch “to screech” ( see screech
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:
Sure, occasionally Todd must scream underwater to keep his head from exploding.
From Salon ● Oct. 22, 2026
“There was a woman on the Hill who told me she was in a group chat where people share my tweets and they appreciate me standing up, even though people scream at me,” said Tanden.
From Slate ● Oct. 15, 2026
Kumuls stalwart Lachlan Lam - forced to miss this World Cup because he needs wrist surgery - likened the atmosphere to "a proper scream".
From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026
After listening to the recording, Carl feels he has no choice but to bring it to Department Q: “He couldn’t get the woman’s scream out of his head.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026
Then, unable to resist another chance to tease, she added, “Unless wicked ghosts appear and threaten to eat us. Then I shall surely scream myself. Eeeeeeek!”
From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood
Waiting, waiting, waiting … and then I heard one of the loudest screams I have ever heard.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2026
When he came on the stage shortly after 8pm, dressed in traditional attire, the stadium erupted and the screams barely stopped for the next two-and-a-bit hours.
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026
She screams into the receiver, “Can anyone hear me?”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2026
“Nothing in the current outlook screams massive incremental power-burn demand.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026
The attendant tells me that his screams whilst in the paroxysm were really appalling; I found my hands full when I got in, attending to some of the other patients who were frightened by him.
From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker
“You can’t guard me!” he screamed at us, ridiculously.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 24, 2026
"Football's Gone Round the Spend!" screamed The People newspaper one Sunday in July 1995.
From BBC ● Oct. 18, 2026
His daughter Anne recalled that he sometimes screamed at night.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
As the sirens screamed again at the central market in Boryspil, Dmyterko pushed her own shopping trolley without looking up.
From Barron's ● Sep. 27, 2026
Taking a silver coach's whistle from her lips, she screamed, "Mary Lou, I found Jeremy. He's over this way."
From "Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher" by Bruce Coville
“I can’t do this anymore,” I hissed to my husband, the baby nursing, the neighbors screaming, tears streaming down my face.
From Slate ● Oct. 28, 2026
Sophie ran into the A&E department screaming "she's not breathing" and credited the quick response of medical staff who helped save her daughter's life.
From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2026
Steve likens its dynamics then to a restaurant, with “a lot of screaming and yelling going on in that kitchen.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026
By the time officers arrived at the scene near Locust Avenue and Ellis Street, Gonzalez was on the ground screaming for medical assistance after being struck by a vehicle, Richardson said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 19, 2026
He wondered if Tom had finally stopped screaming.
From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste
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