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 emotion
b
: to protest, demand, or complain vehemently
c
: to laugh boisterously
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
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
Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 25 Nov. 2025
Crews also captured screaming matches, along with pushing and shoving between the two sides.
—Eric Henderson, CBS News, 25 Nov. 2025
Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Nov. 2025
How the massacre unfolded The events leading up to the massacre began on May 30, 1921, when Dick Rowland, a 19-year-old Black shoe shiner, ran from an elevator in a downtown building after the elevator’s teen operator let out a scream.
—Omar Jimenez, CNN Money, 24 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scream
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Verb
According to Ho, in 1979, DeAngelo was detained at a store for stealing dog repellent and a hammer — and then allegedly faked a heart attack and screamed incoherently when deputies showed up.
—Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 25 Nov. 2025
Crews also captured screaming matches, along with pushing and shoving between the two sides.
—Eric Henderson, CBS News, 25 Nov. 2025
Noun
The in-game heat on NFL coaches induces screams of agony or joy that can be heard outside of press-level coaching booths.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Nov. 2025
How the massacre unfolded The events leading up to the massacre began on May 30, 1921, when Dick Rowland, a 19-year-old Black shoe shiner, ran from an elevator in a downtown building after the elevator’s teen operator let out a scream.
—Omar Jimenez, CNN Money, 24 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scream
Cite this Entry
“Scream.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scream. Accessed 28 Nov. 2025.
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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