squeal

verb \ ˈskwēl \

|Updated on: 16 Jul 2018

Examples: squeal in a Sentence

Definition of squeal

squealed; squealing; squeals

intransitive verb

1 : to make a shrill cry or noise

2 a : to turn informer

squeal to the police

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 squeal defined for English-language learners

See squeal defined for kids

Examples of squeal in a Sentence

The car squealed to a stop.
He squealed the tires and drove off.
She squealed to the teacher.
“Let me go,” she squealed.

Recent Examples of squeal from the Web

An adorable video posted to the singer's Instagram on Wednesday (July 4) shows the new dad spitting water into the air, his impression of a whale, which makes one of his twin infants squeal in delight.

— mary j. dimeglio, Billboard, "See Adorable Video of Enrique Iglesias Making His Baby Giggle With Whale Impression," 4 July 2018
According to the complaint: A New Berlin police officer noticed a blue van making squealing noises at about 5:15 p.m. at National Avenue and Moorland Road.

— elliot hughes, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Pewaukee man admits driving after taking morphine, gets charged with 9th OWI," 29 June 2018
Walker and Kellman both squealed once the final outfit came together, as AlChabaoun laid out the finer points of button etiquette and offered suggestions on how to avoid spills.

— ben golliver, SI.com, "From Dolphin Ethics to Moon Landings, Lonnie Walker IV Unloads Scorching Takes," 21 June 2018
During a Suns open practice, teenage girls squealed at Majerle’s every move.

— scott bordow, azcentral, "Phoenix Suns – and fans – reach silver anniversary of love affair with 1993 Western Conference champions," 16 June 2018
As Kim squealed and wiggled away, the crowd of about 3,000 cheered.

— amanda erickson, Washington Post, "Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte kissed a random woman on the mouth in front of a crowd," 4 June 2018
One year, every time Gibbs went to the mound to make a pitching change, the famous radio call by J.C. Politz of Cannon's run would be played over a loudspeaker and an LSU fan with a high voice would squeal, 'Catch him, Jake.

— ron higgins, NOLA.com, "Rivals who became friends mourn the loss of LSU's Billy Cannon," 23 May 2018
Those high-gain guitars sing and squeal on their own in shrill counterpoint.

— john adamian, courant.com, "Kal Marks To Play MAC650," 19 May 2018
And the mother was out, the mama duck was out there just screaming, and the babies were squealing.

— tiffini theisen, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Florida man, 79, drowned ducklings that got in his pool: report," 17 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'squeal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of squeal

Middle English squelen, of imitative origin

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

squeal Synonyms

Phrases

kick up a fuss;

squeal

noun

Definition of squeal

: a shrill sharp cry or noise

See squeal defined for English-language learners

Examples of squeal in a Sentence

She heard the pig's squeals.

Recent Examples of squeal from the Web

Native to the Tianshan Mountains of northwestern China, the Ili pika was discovered in 1983, and few have shown their squeal-worthy faces since.

— National Geographic, "Rare Bunny-Faced Mammal Captured on Video," 14 June 2018
And the impressive array of imposing creatures — a tarantula, a scorpion — behind glass but obviously quite alive, inspired squeals of horror and excitement.

— New York Times, "Francine Prose on Montreal in the Spring: The Time of the Butterflies," 11 June 2018
Dante, hovering over the issue with Anglophile, let out a manly squeal.

— elisa albert, Longreads, "Etta or Bessie or Dora or Rose," 24 May 2018
Speak into a microphone embedded in the piece, and your voice echoes at a high pitch — a ghost’s squeal.

— cate mcquaid, BostonGlobe.com, "At the ICA, Kevin Beasley alchemizes dark histories," 23 May 2018
The episodes tended to include directional, irritating sounds, such as buzzing and piercing squeals, as well as pressure and vibrations.

— beth mole, Ars Technica, "US gov’t employee in China left with brain injury after strange sounds, pressure," 23 May 2018
Researchers are surveying in some parts of the bay using underwater microphones designed to detect the clicks and squeals dolphins use to communicate with one another.

— scott dance, Washington Post, "Dolphins now are appearing by the hundreds in the Chesapeake Bay," 18 May 2018
Researchers are surveying in some parts of the bay using underwater microphones designed to detect the clicks and squeals dolphins use to communicate with each other.

— scott dance, baltimoresun.com, "Dolphins appearing by the hundreds in Chesapeake Bay: 'All of a sudden there were like 50 of them around us'," 14 May 2018
Saripalli glimpsed her new look through her iPhone camera and let out a squeal of excitement.

— NBC News, "Parkland's seniors celebrate prom, but four are missing," 6 May 2018

First Known Use of squeal

1747

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

SQUEAL Defined for English Language Learners

squeal

verb

Definition of squeal for English Language Learners

: to make or cause (something) to make a long, high-pitched cry or noise
: to tell someone in authority (such as the police or a teacher) about something wrong that someone has done
: to say (something) in a high and excited voice