scream
scream [scream screams screamed screaming] verb, noun BrE [skriːm] NAmE [skriːm]
verb
1. intransitive, transitive to give a loud, high cry, because you are hurt, frightened, excited, etc.
Syn: ↑shriek
• He covered her mouth to stop her from screaming.
•~ in/with sth The kids were screaming with excitement.
•~ out (in/with sth) People ran for the exits, screaming out in terror.
•~ yourself + adj. The baby was screaming itself hoarse.
2. transitive, intransitive to shout sth in a loud, high voice because of fear, anger, etc.
Syn: ↑yell
•+ speech ‘Help!’ she screamed.
•~ (out) (for sth/sb) Someone was screaming for help.
•~ at sb (to do sth) He screamed at me to stop.
•~ sth (out) (at sb) She screamed abuse at him.
•~ (out) that… His sister screamed out that he was crazy.
3. intransitive to make a loud, high noise; to move fast, making this noise
Syn: ↑screech
•Lights flashed and sirens screamed.
•+ adv./prep. The powerboat screamed out to sea.
Verb forms: 
Word Origin:
Middle English: origin uncertain; perhaps from Middle Dutch.
Thesaurus:
scream verb
1. I
•She screamed in pain.
shriek • • screech • • cry out • • squeal • • howl • • wail • • yelp •
scream/shriek/screech/cry out/squeal/howl/wail/yelp at sb
scream/shriek/screech/cry out/squeal/howl/wail/yelp in/with pain/terror, etc.
brakes/tyres scream/shriek/screech/squeal
2. I, T
•He screamed at me to stop.
shout • • yell • • cry out (sth) • • bellow • • cheer • |AmE, informal holler • |written cry • • roar • |disapproving bawl •
scream/shout/yell/bellow/holler/roar/bawl at sb
scream/shout/yell/cry out/bellow/holler/roar in pain/anguish/rage, etc.
scream/shout/cry out for joy/excitement/delight, etc.
Synonyms:
shout
yell • cry • scream • cheer • bellow • raise your voice
These words all mean to say sth in a very loud voice.
shout • to say sth in a loud voice; to speak loudly and often angrily to sb: ▪ Stop shouting and listen! ◇ ▪ ‘Run!’ he shouted.
yell • to shout loudly, for example because you are angry, excited, frightened or in pain: ▪ She yelled at the boy to get down from the wall.
cry • (rather formal or literary) to shout loudly: ▪ She ran over to the window and cried for help.
scream • to shout sth in a loud high voice because you are afraid, angry or excited: ▪ He screamed at me to stop.
cheer • (especially of a crowd of people) to shout loudly to show support or praise for sb, or to give them encouragement: ▪ We all cheered as the team came onto the field.
bellow • to shout in a loud deep voice, especially because you are angry: ▪ ‘Quiet!’ the teacher bellowed.
raise your voice • to speak loudly to sb, especially because you are angry: ▪ She never once raised her voice to us.
to shout/yell/cry/raise your voice to sb
to shout/yell/scream/bellow at sb
to shout/yell/cry out/scream/bellow in pain/anguish/rage, etc.
to shout/cry out/scream for joy/excitement/delight, etc.
to shout/yell/cry out/scream with excitement/triumph, etc.
to shout/yell/scream/bellow at sb to do sth
to shout/yell/scream abuse
to shout/yell/cry/scream for help
Example Bank:
•Despair shook him and he screamed silently in the darkness.
•I was so bored I wanted to scream.
•Marion screamed after them, ‘Stop! Stop!’
•People were staggering about, screaming with pain.
•She screamed at me to get out of the way.
•The baby was screaming its head off.
•The trapped passengers screamed for help.
•‘Help!’ he screamed.
Idiom: ↑scream blue murder
Derived: ↑scream out
noun
1. countable a loud high cry made by sb who is hurt, frightened, excited, etc; a loud high noise
• She let out a scream of pain.
• They ignored the baby's screams.
•He drove off with a scream of tyres.
•I thought I heard a scream.
•All I could hear were the screams of the wounded.
•the screams of adoring fans
2. singular (old-fashioned, informal)a person or thing that causes you to laugh
•He's a scream.
Word Origin:
Middle English: origin uncertain; perhaps from Middle Dutch.
Example Bank:
•She reacted to the news with hysterical screams.
•The scream came from upstairs.
•a scream for help
•screams of laughter/terror
See also: ↑scream bloody murder
|
|
