shriek

1 of 2

verb

ˈshrēk 

 especially Southern  ˈsrēk

shrieked; shrieking; shrieks

intransitive verb

1

: to utter a sharp shrill sound

2

a

: to cry out in a high-pitched voice : screech

b

: to suggest such a cry (as by vividness of expression)

neon colors shrieked for attention

—Calvin Tomkins

transitive verb

1

: to utter with a shriek

shriek an alarm

2

: to express in a manner suggestive of a shriek

shriek

2 of 2

noun

1

: a shrill usually wild or involuntary cry

2

: a sound resembling a shriek

the shriek of chalk on the blackboard

Synonyms

Verb

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

Examples of shriek in a Sentence

Verb

The birds were shrieking in the trees.

She shrieked when she saw a mouse.

Noun

the shriek of the train's brakes

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Our ears are still ringing from watching fans become shrieking banshees upon realizing that one of her professional dancers was actually the NFL star. —Lauren Huff, EW.com, 7 Dec. 2024

Advertisement There are paintings, dolls and ceramic figures, each with its own expression — smiling, laughing, smirking, weeping or silently shrieking. —Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 3 Dec. 2024

Noun

The screams eventually reach a crescendo, as video shows the shrieks getting gradually louder and louder until the group stopped. —Andrea Margolis, Fox News, 28 Nov. 2024

Seeing the bus, the young woman raised a whistle to her lips and blew, sending a shriek across the steady hum of traffic. —Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 4 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English shreken, probably irregular from shriken to shriek; akin to Old Norse skrækja to shriek

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1567, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

shriek

1 of 2 verb

ˈshrēk 

1

: to utter a sharp shrill cry

2

: to cry out in a high-pitched voice

shriek

2 of 2 noun

: a sharp shrill cry