squeal

1 of 2

verb

ˈskwēl 

squealed; squealing; squeals

intransitive verb

1

: to make a shrill cry or noise

2

a

: to tell someone in authority (as the police, a parent, or a teacher) about someone else's bad behavior or actions

How'd they find out? Someone must have squealed.

b

: complain, protest

transitive verb

1

: to express with or as if with a squeal

2

: to cause to make a loud shrill noise

squealing the tires

squealer noun

see also squeal on

squeal

2 of 2

noun

: a shrill sharp cry or noise

Synonyms of squeal

Verb

• talk
• squeak
• inform
• tell (on)

Examples of squeal in a Sentence

Verb

The car squealed to a stop.

He squealed the tires and drove off.

She squealed to the teacher.

“Let me go,” she squealed.

Noun

She heard the pig's squeals.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Sherman yelled at the audience members, many of whom were squealing in horrified glee. —Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2025

But grinding, squealing or rattling are signs of trouble. —Angie Hicks, Boston Herald, 6 Dec. 2025

Noun

Lift operators reported hearing a loud bang as the beam bent and cracked, then a squeal as the gondola ground to a halt. —John Meyer, Denver Post, 29 Nov. 2025

In an early sequence, Alma (Hanna Heckt), a young girl with pale blond braids, squeals and runs with her sisters from room to room. —Justin Chang, New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English squelen, of imitative origin

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1747, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing squeal

• squeal on

Rhymes for squeal

• abele
• alkyl
• anneal
• appeal
• cartwheel
• conceal
• congeal
• coquille
• corneal
• cornmeal
• flywheel
• foveal

Kids Definition

squeal

1 of 2 verb

ˈskwē(ə)l 

1

: to make a long shrill cry or noise

2

a

: inform sense 2

squealed to the teacher

b

: complain sense 1, protest

3

: to utter with or as if with a squeal

squealer noun

squeal

2 of 2 noun

: a long shrill cry or noise