squeak

1 of 2

verb

squeaked; squeaking; squeaks

intransitive verb

1
: to utter or make a short shrill cry or noise
2
3
: to pass, succeed, or win by a narrow margin
just squeaked by in the election

transitive verb

: to utter in a shrill piping tone

squeak

2 of 2

noun

1
: a sharp shrill cry or sound
2
: escape
a close squeak
squeaky adjective

Examples of squeak in a Sentence

Verb I could hear the mouse squeaking. She squeaked when I pinched her. My shoes squeak when I walk. The wheel squeaks when it turns. He squeaked into office by fewer than 2,000 votes. “I can't believe it!” she squeaked. Noun She gave out a squeak.
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.
Verb
Also, having a mattress that doesn’t squeak or jiggle when my cat comes back from his midnight snack is a real plus for a solid, uninterrupted REM cycle. Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 11 Mar. 2025 What's going to happen is the first quarter is going to squeak into the positive category, and then the second quarter is going to take off as everybody sees the reality of the tax cuts. Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
Noun
Juliana is one of those people who express positive emotions with a high-pitched squeak. Ali Barthwell, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2025 And if that’s not strange enough, this tiny creature barks, squeaks and even screams when threatened. Scott Travers, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for squeak

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English squeken, of imitative origin

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1671, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of squeak was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Squeak.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/squeak. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

squeak

1 of 2 verb
1
: to make a short shrill cry or noise
2
: to pass, succeed, or win by a narrow margin
barely squeaked by
3
: to utter in a shrill tone

squeak

2 of 2 noun
1
: a sharp shrill cry or sound
2
: escape entry 2 sense 1
a close squeak

More from Merriam-Webster on squeak

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!