squeal

1 of 2

verb

ˈskwēl 

squealed; squealing; squeals

intransitive verb

1

: to make a shrill cry or noise

2

a

: to turn informer

squeal to the police

b

: complain, protest

transitive verb

1

: to express with or as if with a squeal

2

: to cause to make a loud shrill noise

squealing the tires

squealer noun

squeal

2 of 2

noun

: a shrill sharp cry or noise

Synonyms

Verb

• fink
• grass (on) [British slang]
• inform
• rat (on)
• sing
• snitch
• split (on) [British]
• squeak
• talk
• tell (on)

Examples of squeal in a Sentence

Verb

The car squealed to a stop.

He squealed the tires and drove off.

She squealed to the teacher.

“Let me go,” she squealed.

Noun

She heard the pig's squeals.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Any coffee lover will squeal when opening a box of Flur glassware. —Andrew Watman, WIRED, 5 Dec. 2024

The audience squealed; Timberlake was Pagliacci in a chunky silver chain. —Eric Webb, Austin American-Statesman, 1 June 2024

Noun

The poor bat’s squeals lingered with me through the night. —Jack King, Vulture, 17 Nov. 2024

There’s no dialogue, at least none decipherable to human ears — everything is a symphony of meows, woofs, squawks, grunts, squeaks, squeals and simian cries. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 20 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English squelen, of imitative origin

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun

1747, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing squeal

• squeal on

Kids Definition

squeal

1 of 2 verb

ˈskwē(ə)l 

1

: to make a long shrill cry or noise

2

a

: inform sense 2

squealed to the teacher

b

: complain sense 1, protest

3

: to utter with or as if with a squeal

squealer noun

squeal

2 of 2 noun

: a long shrill cry or noise