screech

1 of 2

noun

1
: a high shrill piercing cry usually expressing pain or terror
2
: a sound resembling a screech

screech

2 of 2

verb

screeched; screeching; screeches

intransitive verb

1
: to utter a high shrill piercing cry : make an outcry usually in terror or pain
2
: to make a shrill high-pitched sound resembling a screech
also : to move with such a sound
the car screeched to a stop

transitive verb

: to utter with or as if with a screech
screecher noun

Examples of screech in a Sentence

Noun With a loud screech, she smashed the plate against the wall. Verb I screeched when I saw the mouse. He kept screeching at the children to pay attention. “You can't do this to me!” she screeched.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
One-take monologues are sliced in half, plot twists pause mid-gasp, and a car chase sequence screeches to a halt. Viren Naidu, IndieWire, 24 Mar. 2025 While not functional, the shiny cars served as props for young kids to vape, scroll on their phones, and screech on top of. Tiana Randall, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
Verb
Contrary to the belief that playing two centers would bring everything to a screeching halt, Houston’s pace when both are on the floor is 101.5, which would be fifth-fastest in the league. Kelly Iko, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025 But that doesn’t mean life has to come to a screeching halt. Alisa Hrustic, SELF, 24 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for screech

Word History

Etymology

Verb

alteration of earlier scritch, from Middle English scrichen; akin to Old Norse skrækja to screech

First Known Use

Noun

1560, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1577, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of screech was in 1560

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Screech.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/screech. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

screech

1 of 2 noun
1
: a shrill harsh cry usually expressing pain or terror
2
: a sound like a screech
the screech of brakes

screech

2 of 2 verb
1
: to cry out usually in terror or pain
2
: to make a sound like a screech
the car screeched to a halt
screecher noun

More from Merriam-Webster on screech

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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