scream

scream — verb

1. to produce a very loud, high-pitched cry or shout from your mouth, usually becau

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

to produce a very loud, high-pitched cry or shout from your mouth, usually because you are frightened, angry, excited, or in physical pain

Example

The toddler screamed when the nurse gave her a vaccination shot.

scream + when-clause for cause of fear/pain

Fans screamed with joy as the band stepped onto the brightly lit stage.

scream + with + emotion (joy/excitement)

Common collocations
  • scream with laughter
  • scream for help
  • scream in terror
  • scream at somebody
  • scream in pain
Synonyms
  • shriek

    even higher-pitched and more startling than scream, usually from sudden fear

  • yell

    loud and forceful but not necessarily high-pitched; common for anger or calling out

  • shout

    a neutral term for a loud voice; can be positive or negative

  • screech

    harsh, grating sound; often used for animals or tyres, not typically human emotion

Antonyms
  • whisper

    the opposite vocal register — very quiet, meant only for nearby listeners

Grammar Patterns

scream

scream + at + person

scream + with + emotion

scream + that-clause

scream + speech

Usage Note

The preposition with introduces the emotion behind the scream (scream with laughter, scream with terror). When using a that-clause, the content is typically urgent or alarming. This sense can also take a direct quote immediately after the verb.

Common Mistakes

She shouted when she saw the mouse under the bed.
She screamed when she saw the mouse under the bed.
'shout' is a loud call but not necessarily high-pitched; 'scream' implies a piercing, high sound caused by fear.
He screamed at me for five minutes about the broken printer.
He yelled at me for five minutes about the broken printer.
'scream' suggests a high-pitched emotional outburst, while 'yell' better fits sustained loud speech in anger.

2. to travel at high speed while giving off a sustained, high-pitched noise — used

2.verbintransitiveB2
Definition

to travel at high speed while giving off a sustained, high-pitched noise — used for racing cars, trains, ambulances, and other fast vehicles

Example

A police car screamed past the school with its lights flashing wildly.

vehicle + screams + adverb of direction (past)

The ambulance screamed down the empty highway during the midnight emergency.

vehicle + screams + adverb (down) + setting

Common collocations
  • scream past
  • scream down
  • scream through
  • scream along
Synonyms
  • roar

    a deep, low engine sound rather than a high-pitched one — a big truck roars, a sports car screams

  • screech

    a harsh, grating sound of tyres or brakes, not the continuous sound of movement

  • race

    focuses on speed without the sound component

Grammar Patterns

vehicle + screams + adverb (past / down / through / along)

Usage Note

The subject is always a fast-moving vehicle or a mechanical device associated with motion. Common in narrative writing to add urgency. Typically paired with a directional adverb (past, down, through, around, along).

Common Mistakes

The old bicycle screamed down the hill.
The racing car screamed down the hill.
this sense only works for vehicles that produce a loud, high engine or siren sound.

3. to produce a piercing, high-pitched, and typically grating noise — used for alar

3.verbintransitiveB2
Definition

to produce a piercing, high-pitched, and typically grating noise — used for alarms, machinery, electric guitars, birds, and other objects or animals

Example

The fire alarm screamed throughout the entire building at two in the morning.

alarm/device + screams for loud warning sound

Electric guitars screamed through the amplifiers during the band's final song.

Common collocations
  • alarm screams
  • sirens scream
  • guitar screams
  • machinery screams
Synonyms
  • shriek

    more common for human or animal sounds; less natural for machines

  • screech

    suggests a harsher, more abrasive sound like metal grinding

  • wail

    a long, mournful high sound, often for sirens or wind

Grammar Patterns

object + screams

object + screams + adverb

Usage Note

Unlike sense 2 (SPEEDING VEHICLE), this sense does not imply fast movement — it focuses purely on the unpleasant, piercing quality of the sound itself. The subject can be any object or animal that produces such a sound.

4. if a word, image, colour, or design screams, it is so large, bright, or striking

4.verbintransitiveC1
Definition

if a word, image, colour, or design screams, it is so large, bright, or striking that it immediately gets your attention and cannot be ignored

Example

The newspaper headline screamed "Storm of the Century" across the front page.

headline + screams + direct quote for striking text

Her bright red dress screamed for attention at the formal dinner party.

Common collocations
  • scream out
  • scream for attention
  • scream luxury
  • scream danger
Synonyms
  • stand out

    less intense — means noticeable but not necessarily striking in an aggressive way

  • jump out

    similar register, implies sudden visual capture

  • shout

    can be used interchangeably ('the color shouts at you'), but less common for this pattern

Antonyms
  • blend in

    the opposite — to be unnoticeable, to not attract attention

Grammar Patterns

word/image/color + screams + (out)

word/image/color + screams + noun

Usage Note

Common in informal journalism, advertising, and descriptive writing. The figurative meaning relies on visual exaggeration — the element is so prominent it feels like it is shouting at the viewer. The preposition 'out' (scream out) adds emphasis, as in 'The price tag screams out luxury.'

Phrasal verbs

scream out

phrasal verb

To shout something very loudly, often because of fear, anger, or excitement.

The children screamed out in joy when they saw the puppy.

Diego screamed out a warning just before the car hit the barrier.

Idioms

scream blue murder

idiom

to shout or protest very loudly and angrily, often for a long time, especially about something you think is unfair

The residents screamed blue murder when the council raised the rent on their apartments.

The taxi driver screamed blue murder about the new parking rules in the city centre.

drag (someone) kicking and screaming

idiom

to force someone to do something they really do not want to do, despite their strong protests

The government dragged the old factory owners kicking and screaming into accepting new safety rules.

Teachers had to drag the students kicking and screaming into studying for their final exams.

scream with laughter

idiom

to laugh very loudly and uncontrollably, making a high-pitched sound

The children screamed with laughter when the clown slipped on a banana peel.

The audience screamed with laughter at the comedian's jokes about modern life.

(drag somebody) kicking and screaming

idiom

To force someone to do something they strongly do not want to do, often with loud complaints.

Maya dragged her brother kicking and screaming to the dentist.

Did the manager really have to be dragged kicking and screaming to the meeting?

scream — noun

Word family

  • screamer
    nounC1
  • screaming
    adjectiveB2
  • screamingly
    adverbC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Scream, shout, yell, shriek, and screech all describe loud vocal sounds, but they differ in pitch, emotional trigger, and tone quality. A scream is a high-pitched, piercing cry typically caused by fear, excitement, or pain — it cuts through other sounds and signals strong emotion. A shout is a loud call made to be heard at a distance or to express anger, but it does not require a high pitch — you can shout a warning across a street. Yell is similar to shout but often carries stronger emotion or urgency, though the pitch is still not as high as a scream. Shriek is the closest synonym to scream but suggests an even higher, more startling sound, usually from sudden fear or surprise rather than anger. Screech describes a harsh, unpleasant, grating sound — whether from a person (screeching in protest), an animal, or vehicle brakes. For example: 'Rania screamed when the lights went out during the storm.' 'The coach shouted instructions from the sideline.' 'The children shrieked with delight as the birthday cake arrived.' 'The car's brakes screeched as it stopped at the crosswalk.'

shout ↗yell ↗shriekscreech ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'scream' comes from Middle English 'scremen', which itself traces back to Old English 'scræman' or 'scræmman', both meaning 'to cry out'. It is related to Old Norse 'skræma' (to terrify) and Dutch 'schreeuwen' (to shout). The word has been used in English since the 1200s, originally describing a loud human cry and later extending to sounds made by animals, vehicles, and machines. The informal sense of 'a very funny thing' first appeared in British slang in the early 1900s.