scream

1 of 2

verb

ˈskrēm 

screamed; screaming; screams

intransitive verb

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 emotion

b

: to protest, demand, or complain vehemently

c

: to laugh boisterously

3

: to produce a vivid startling effect

transitive verb

1

: to utter with or as if with a scream

"Use your mirror!" screamed her petrified bodyguard …

—Alan Coren

Fans in the mosh pit shook their fists and screamed her lyrics in unison.

—Neal Karlen

2

: 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

There's something about Jane Austen novels, and especially Pride & Prejudice, that just screams fall reading to me.

—Kerry Jarema

scream

2 of 2

noun

1

: a loud sharp penetrating cry or noise

2

: a very funny person or thing

Synonyms of scream

Verb

• shriek
• squeal
• yell

Noun

• hoot
• laugh
• riot

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 Web

Verb

My basketball-agnostic wife was in our family living room screaming like her favorite team had won it all. — Tony Jones, New York Times, 27 July 2026

Scenes of players screaming and shouting with excitement on the official opening day for 11-man high school football practices on Monday might be hard to find. — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2026

Noun

In another part of the facility, the screams of industrial machinery made talking difficult, and the fumes from hot epoxy filled the air. — Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026

Later that pitch-black night, Erez steps to the edge of her terrace, looks down at the sleepy city below, and lets out a blood-curdling scream. — Marisa Fox, Rolling Stone, 16 July 2026

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

1513, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing scream

• primal scream therapy
• scream bloody murder
• scream blue murder
• scream for
• scream out for

Rhymes for scream

• beam
• bream
• cream
• creme
• deem
• dream
• gleam
• meme
• ream
• scheme
• seam
• seem

Kids Definition

scream

1 of 2 verb

ˈskrēm 

1

: 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 noun

1

: a loud shrill long cry or noise

screams of terror

2

: a very funny person or thing