scream
verb /skriːm/
/skriːm/
Verb Forms
Idioms Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they scream | /skriːm/ /skriːm/ |
| he / she / it screams | /skriːmz/ /skriːmz/ |
| past simple screamed | /skriːmd/ /skriːmd/ |
| past participle screamed | /skriːmd/ /skriːmd/ |
| -ing form screaming | /ˈskriːmɪŋ/ /ˈskriːmɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive, transitive] to give a loud, high shout, because you are hurt, frightened, excited, etc. synonym shriek
- He covered her mouth to stop her from screaming.
- I wanted to run screaming from the room.
- scream in/with something The kids were screaming with excitement.
- I screamed in pain.
- The man screamed in agony and collapsed.
- He heard a few of the children screaming with laughter.
- scream out in/with something People ran for the exits, screaming out in terror.
- scream out The boy screamed out, as he felt a man's hand grab his arm.
- scream yourself + adj. The baby was screaming itself hoarse.
- screaming fans
Extra ExamplesTopics Feelingsb2- Despair shook him and he screamed silently in the darkness.
- I was so bored I wanted to scream.
- People were staggering about, screaming with pain.
- People were screaming and yelling, passing out, fainting.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- aloud
- loudly
- silently
- …
- want to
- try to
- begin to
- …
- after
- at
- for
- …
- begin screaming
- start screaming
- scream your head off
- …
- [transitive, intransitive] to shout something in a loud, high voice because of fear, anger, etc. synonym yell
- + speech ‘Help!’ she screamed.
- 'Go away!' I screamed at the top of my voice (= as loudly as possible).
- scream (out) for something/somebody Someone was screaming for help.
- scream at somebody to do something He screamed at me to stop.
- scream at somebody Everyone started screaming at each other.
- She started screaming and shouting at me.
- He screamed hysterically at me.
- scream something (out) (at somebody) She screamed abuse at him.
- She screamed out abuse at him.
- I started pounding on the door screaming my lungs out (= as loud and long as possible).
- He screamed his head off (= screamed very loudly and angrily) at me.
- scream (out) that… His sister screamed out that he was crazy.
Synonyms shoutshout- yell
- cry
- scream
- cheer
- bellow
- raise your voice
- shout to say something in a loud voice; to speak loudly and often angrily to somebody:
- Stop shouting and listen!
- ‘Run!’ he shouted.
- yell to shout loudly, for example because you are angry, excited, frightened or in pain:
- She yelled at the boy to get down from the wall.
- cry (rather formal or literary) to shout loudly:
- She ran over to the window and cried for help.
- scream to shout something in a loud high voice because you are afraid, angry or excited:
- He screamed at me to stop.
- cheer (especially of a crowd of people) to shout loudly to show support or praise for somebody, or to encourage them:
- We all cheered as the team came onto the field.
- bellow to shout in a loud deep voice, especially because you are angry:
- ‘Quiet!’ the teacher bellowed.
- raise your voice to speak loudly to somebody, especially because you are angry:
- She never once raised her voice to us.
- to shout/yell/cry/raise your voice to somebody
- to shout/yell/scream/bellow at somebody
- to shout/yell/cry out/scream/bellow in pain/anguish/rage, etc.
- to shout/cry out/scream for joy/excitement/delight, etc.
- to shout/yell/cry out/scream with excitement/triumph, etc.
- to shout/yell/scream/bellow at somebody to do something
- to shout/yell/scream abuse
- to shout/yell/cry/scream for help
Extra Examples- Marion screamed after them, ‘Stop! Stop!’
- She screamed at me to get out of the way.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- aloud
- loudly
- silently
- …
- want to
- try to
- begin to
- …
- after
- at
- for
- …
- begin screaming
- start screaming
- scream your head off
- …
- [intransitive] to make a loud, high noise; to move fast, making this noise synonym screech
- Lights flashed and sirens screamed.
- + adv./prep. The powerboat screamed out to sea.
Word OriginMiddle English: origin uncertain; perhaps from Middle Dutch.
Idioms
(drag somebody) kicking and screaming
- (informal) if you drag somebody kicking and screaming to do something, they only do it with great protests because they don't really want to do it at all
- The president had to be dragged kicking and screaming to the signing ceremony.
scream blue murder (British English)
(North American English scream bloody murder)
- to scream loudly and for a long time, especially in order to protest about something