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 or hysterical emotion
b
: to protest, demand, or complain vehemently
c
: to laugh hysterically
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
Synonyms
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
Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2024
He was allowed to be on that train and even to scream.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2024
Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 22 Oct. 2024
One of them manages to bend her face into a consoling smile that might as well be a Munch scream.
—Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for scream 
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Verb
When Jonathan swam out to the dinghy, Nicky screamed no.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2024
He was allowed to be on that train and even to scream.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
When threatened, this gecko can open that mouth and emit a blood-curdling scream.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 22 Oct. 2024
One of them manages to bend her face into a consoling smile that might as well be a Munch scream.
—Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for scream
Dictionary Entries Near scream
Cite this Entry
“Scream.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scream. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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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