squeal

1 of 3

verb

ˈskwēl 

squealed; squealing; squeals

intransitive verb

1

: to make a shrill cry or noise

2

a

: to tell someone in authority (as the police, a parent, or a teacher) about someone else's bad behavior or actions

How'd they find out? Someone must have squealed.

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 also:

squeal on

squeal

2 of 3

noun (1)

: a shrill sharp cry or noise

squealer

3 of 3

noun (2)

squeal·​er

-ēlə(r)

plural -s

: one that squeals: such as

a

: a European swift (Apus apus synonym Micropus apus)

b

: harlequin duck

c

: an American golden plover (Pluvialis dominica)

d

: a young squab pigeon

e

dialectal : wood duck sense 1

f

: a young grouse, partridge, or quail

g

: informer, betrayer

Synonyms of squeal

Verb

• talk
• squeak
• inform
• tell (on)

Examples of squeal in a Sentence

Verb

The car squealed to a stop.

He squealed the tires and drove off.

She squealed to the teacher.

“Let me go,” she squealed.

Noun (1)

She heard the pig's squeals.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Pigs that were being hauled by the semi could be heard squealing at the scene. — Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 23 June 2026

Automatic weapons blasting, tires squealing, the whole bit. — Marla Jo Fisher, Oc Register, 3 June 2026

Noun

Along the way, the animal attracts plenty of delighted squeals, affectionate greetings and eager requests from passersby for a photo together. — ABC News, 15 June 2026

The episode met with an enthusiastic response from the Taormina audience with squeals of disgust when Aemond seemingly leans into kiss his mother on the lips; as well as cheers, shocked screams and collective gasps as characters fought to the death, sometimes triumphing and sometimes not. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 10 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English squelen, of imitative origin

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1747, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing squeal

• squeal on

Rhymes for squeal

• abele
• alkyl
• anneal
• appeal
• cartwheel
• conceal
• congeal
• coquille
• corneal
• cornmeal
• flywheel
• genteel

Kids Definition

squeal

1 of 2 verb

ˈskwē(ə)l 

1

: to make a long shrill cry or noise

2

a

: inform sense 2

squealed to the teacher

b

: complain sense 1, protest

3

: to utter with or as if with a squeal

squealer noun

squeal

2 of 2 noun

: a long shrill cry or noise