screamed; screaming; screams
1
a(1)
: to voice a sudden sharp loud cry
(2)
: to produce harsh high tones
b
: to make a noise resembling a scream
the siren screamed
c
: to move with great rapidity
2
a
: to speak or write with intense or hysterical emotion
b
: to protest, demand, or complain vehemently
c
: to laugh hysterically
3
: to produce a vivid startling effect
1
: to utter with or as if with a scream
"Use your mirror!" screamed her petrified bodyguard …—
Alan Coren
Alan CorenFans in the mosh pit shook their fists and screamed her lyrics in unison.—Neal Karlen
Neal Karlen2
: to call (something) to mind very strongly and clearly
They may be a pain to carve, but few things scream Halloween quite like the iconic jack o'lantern.—Matt Juul
Matt JuulThere's something about Jane Austen novels, and especially Pride & Prejudice, that just screams fall reading to me.—Kerry Jarema
Kerry Jarema1
: a loud sharp penetrating cry or noise
2
: a very funny person or thing
Synonyms
Examples of scream in a Sentence
Verb
She screamed when the door suddenly slammed shut.
This is so irritating I could scream.
The crowd screamed with excitement.
He was dragged, kicking and screaming, from the room.
He screamed at her to stop.
Sirens were screaming in the distance.
Police cars screamed down the street.
Newspaper headlines screamed about the spike in crime.
Noun
She let out a piercing scream.
that new comedy is a scream
Recent Examples on the WebAnne McCarthy, Variety, 14 Apr. 2024
Brittany wore white cowboy boots in one of her Coachella outfits that year, a two-piece lacey look that screamed bridal.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 12 Apr. 2024
In front of screaming crowds, Mescal fights angry baboons and a massive rhinoceros, the latter ridden by a towering man in armor.
—Jack Smart, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
The song is a waltz, heavy on strings and keyboard, with Flores almost screaming the refrain in his pained twang.
—Josh Crutchmer, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024
As darkness fully descended, the crowd shrieked and screamed and oohed and aahed.
—Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024
Sounds of awe, tears of joy — and not to mention the screaming animals — were a few of the reactions at the Fort Worth Zoo as the moon eased across the sun’s face Monday.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Apr. 2024
Your children are screaming and your dog is lying dead in a pool of blood.
—Pamela Appea, Parents, 7 Apr. 2024
Spring is upon us (some days, anyway), which to me screams patio season.
—The Enquirer, 2 Apr. 2024
Christian Edwards, CNN, 15 Apr. 2024
Pet Snake Missing for a Year Was Reunited with Its Owner After Being Dropped into a Yard by a Crow
The owner follows the cat and snake inside, where screams can be heard.
—Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024
One woman's screams pierced through the courtyard as bodies were freshly uncovered on Monday.
—Aya Batrawy, NPR, 6 Apr. 2024
The family friend heard her scream during the call and then lost contact with Russell.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2024
Shortly after midnight on March 15, a woman in the neighborhood was awakened by screams and pleas for help.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2024
The expectant mother let out a scream and looked directly into the camera in astonishment.
—Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 25 Mar. 2024
Suddenly, there was a scream, and the bangs started to be heard as bursts.
—NBC News, 23 Mar. 2024
But she shouldn’t be pigeonholed as a scream queen, either.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2024
Verb
Popular on Variety As the camera pans to McKinnon, Gosling, and Sherman, the crowd inside Studio 8H screams with delight as the familiar scene is set.
—Anne McCarthy, Variety, 14 Apr. 2024
Brittany wore white cowboy boots in one of her Coachella outfits that year, a two-piece lacey look that screamed bridal.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 12 Apr. 2024
In front of screaming crowds, Mescal fights angry baboons and a massive rhinoceros, the latter ridden by a towering man in armor.
—Jack Smart, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
The song is a waltz, heavy on strings and keyboard, with Flores almost screaming the refrain in his pained twang.
—Josh Crutchmer, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024
As darkness fully descended, the crowd shrieked and screamed and oohed and aahed.
—Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024
Sounds of awe, tears of joy — and not to mention the screaming animals — were a few of the reactions at the Fort Worth Zoo as the moon eased across the sun’s face Monday.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Apr. 2024
Your children are screaming and your dog is lying dead in a pool of blood.
—Pamela Appea, Parents, 7 Apr. 2024
Spring is upon us (some days, anyway), which to me screams patio season.
—The Enquirer, 2 Apr. 2024
Noun
Several others immediately attempted to intervene while screams could be heard in the church.
—Christian Edwards, CNN, 15 Apr. 2024
Pet Snake Missing for a Year Was Reunited with Its Owner After Being Dropped into a Yard by a Crow
The owner follows the cat and snake inside, where screams can be heard.
—Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024
One woman's screams pierced through the courtyard as bodies were freshly uncovered on Monday.
—Aya Batrawy, NPR, 6 Apr. 2024
The family friend heard her scream during the call and then lost contact with Russell.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2024
Shortly after midnight on March 15, a woman in the neighborhood was awakened by screams and pleas for help.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2024
The expectant mother let out a scream and looked directly into the camera in astonishment.
—Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 25 Mar. 2024
Suddenly, there was a scream, and the bangs started to be heard as bursts.
—NBC News, 23 Mar. 2024
But she shouldn’t be pigeonholed as a scream queen, either.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'scream.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English scremen; akin to Middle Dutch schreem scream
First Known Use
Verb
12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a(1)
Noun
1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of scream was
in the 12th century
Phrases Containing scream
Dictionary Entries Near scream
Cite this Entry
“Scream.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scream. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
scream
1 of 2 verb1
: to cry out, sound, or utter loudly and shrilly
2
: to move with great speed
3
a
: to produce or give a vivid, startling, or alarming effect or expression
b
: to protest, demand, or complain forcefully
screamer
noun
scream
2 of 2 noun1
: a loud shrill long cry or noise
screams of terror
2
: a very funny person or thing
More from Merriam-Webster on scream
Nglish: Translation of scream for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of scream for Arabic Speakers
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