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 WebThe Editors Of Artnews, ARTnews.com, 18 July 2024
The popular YouTube program — on which A-Listers eat increasingly spicy chicken wings, resulting in tears, screams and cries for mercy — as they’re asked intelligent, incisive questions by host Sean Evans, had successfully petitioned to be eligible for the Emmys’ talk series category.
—Kate Aurthur, Variety, 17 July 2024
Makena Gera, Peoplemag, 16 July 2024
The people in the stands behind him also crouched as screams rang through the crowd.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for scream 
Verb
The second, by a 16-year-old artist, was said to portray a screaming woman and a swastika.
—The Editors Of Artnews, ARTnews.com, 18 July 2024
The popular YouTube program — on which A-Listers eat increasingly spicy chicken wings, resulting in tears, screams and cries for mercy — as they’re asked intelligent, incisive questions by host Sean Evans, had successfully petitioned to be eligible for the Emmys’ talk series category.
—Kate Aurthur, Variety, 17 July 2024
Noun
While the couple tried to depart from their home in Bradbury, Calif., a gated suburb of L.A., the neighbors reported hearing screams and gunfire, according to court documents.
—Makena Gera, Peoplemag, 16 July 2024
The people in the stands behind him also crouched as screams rang through the crowd.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for scream
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.
Dictionary Entries Near scream
Cite this Entry
“Scream.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scream. Accessed 26 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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