shriek

1 of 2

verb

ˈshrēk 

especially Southern ˈsrēk

shrieked; shrieking; shrieks

intransitive verb

1

: to utter a sharp shrill sound

2

a

: to cry out in a high-pitched voice : screech

b

: to suggest such a cry (as by vividness of expression)

… neon colors shrieked for attention.

—Calvin Tomkins

transitive verb

1

: to utter with a shriek

shriek an alarm

2

: to express in a manner suggestive of a shriek

shriek

2 of 2

noun

1

: a shrill usually wild or involuntary cry

2

: a sound resembling a shriek

the shriek of chalk on the blackboard

Synonyms of shriek

Verb

• scream
• squeal
• yell

Examples of shriek in a Sentence

Verb

The birds were shrieking in the trees.

She shrieked when she saw a mouse.

Noun

the shriek of the train's brakes

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

This seems to me as offensive to rationality as a saint shrieking into the air. —Christian Wiman, Harpers Magazine, 23 Nov. 2025

His nine children sat at the foot of the stage shrieking their approval whenever his speech crescendoed. —John Bartlett, NPR, 17 Nov. 2025

Noun

Brave screams into the mic to shrieks of laughter. —Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 13 Nov. 2025

The growls and snarls of his hounds had turned to yelps and shrieks. —John McCoy, Outdoor Life, 12 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English shreken, probably irregular from shriken to shriek; akin to Old Norse skrækja to shriek

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1567, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for shriek

• beak
• beek
• bleak
• cheek
• chic
• clique
• creak
• creek
• eke
• freak
• geek
• greek

Kids Definition

shriek

1 of 2 verb

ˈshrēk 

1

: to utter a sharp shrill cry

2

: to cry out in a high-pitched voice

shriek

2 of 2 noun

: a sharp shrill cry