screech

1 of 2

noun

ˈskrēch 

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

Synonyms

Verb

• howl
• scream
• shriek
• shrill
• squall
• squeal
• yell
• yelp

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

Noun

The climax is protracted but darkly thrilling: ugly secrets spill into the open, winged monkeys screech and scatter, and Elphaba comes into full possession of her powers. —Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2024

Now imagine the screech of a needle being dragged across vinyl, then swivel 180 degrees to think of the exact opposite. —Zoë Dare Hall, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024

Verb

Catherine walks blindly into the street, right in front of a speeding taxi, which screeches to a stop but still sends her spinning. —Ben Travers, IndieWire, 18 Oct. 2024

My general rule is that anything below 33,000 sends out a buzzing warning signal to the owners and anything below 30,000 is screeching alarm bells. —Tim Kawakami, The Athletic, 22 Aug. 2024

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

Phrases Containing screech

• screech owl
• screech to a halt/stop

Kids Definition

screech

1 of 2 noun

ˈskrēch 

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