scream

A2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˈskriːm/ UK /skɹiːm/ See IPA manual

Freq #2244

Meanings

1

verb
To make a loud, high cry, usually because of fear, pain, or excitement.

She screamed when she saw the spider on the wall.
2

noun
A loud, high cry made because of fear, pain, or excitement.

We heard a scream coming from the next room.
3

verb
To make a loud, piercing sound.

The fighter planes screamed through the sky.
4

verb
To clearly show or suggest a particular quality.

The way she dresses just screams confidence.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to make a loud, high cry,... cry shout shriek yell

2 noun · a loud, high cry made... screech shriek

Word family

Forms screamedscreams

Derived forms screamo

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

unearthly scream
a piercing cry that sounds strange or frighteningly unnatural

Adjective + noun

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English scremen, borrowed from or cognate to Middle Dutch scremen (“to yell; shout”) and Old Norse skræma (“to terrify; scare”); compare West Flemish schreemen, Zealandic schreême (“to shout; yell; cry”), Swedish skrämma (“to spook; frighten”), Danish skræmme (“to scare”), West Frisian skrieme (“to weep”). Compare also Swedish skräna (“to yell; shout; howl”), Dutch schreien (“to cry; weep”), German schreien (“to scream”). Related to shriek, skrike.

scremen Middle Dutch skræma Old Norse

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# scream

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈskriːm/
**IPA (UK):** /skɹiːm/
**Frequency rank:** 2244

## Meanings
1. To make a loud, high cry, usually because of fear, pain, or excitement.
2. A loud, high cry made because of fear, pain, or excitement.
3. To make a loud, piercing sound.
4. To clearly show or suggest a particular quality.

## Examples
- She screamed when she saw the spider on the wall.
- We heard a scream coming from the next room.
- The fighter planes screamed through the sky.
- The way she dresses just screams confidence.

## Derived Forms
- screamo

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: scremen
- Root: skræma

## Etymology
Inherited from Middle English scremen, borrowed from or cognate to Middle Dutch scremen (“to yell; shout”) and Old Norse skræma (“to terrify; scare”); compare West Flemish schreemen, Zealandic schreême (“to shout; yell; cry”), Swedish skrämma (“to spook; frighten”), Danish skræmme (“to scare”), West Frisian skrieme (“to weep”). Compare also Swedish skräna (“to yell; shout; howl”), Dutch schreien (“to cry; weep”), German schreien (“to scream”). Related to shriek, skrike.

## AI Etymology
Scream is inherited from Middle English scremen, borrowed from or cognate to Middle Dutch scremen (“to yell; shout”) and Old Norse skræma (“to terrify; scare”); compare West Flemish schreemen, Zealandic schreême (“to shout; yell; cry”), Swedish skrämma (“to spook; frighten”), Danish skræmme (“to scare”), West Frisian skrieme (“to weep”). Compare also Swedish skräna (“to yell; shout; howl”), Dutch schreien (“to cry; weep”), German schreien (“to scream”). Related to shriek, skrike. Important forms in the word's history include Middle English scremen, Middle Dutch scremen, Old Norse skræma. In current use it includes senses such as To make a loud, high cry, usually because of fear, pain, or excitement and A loud, high cry made because of fear, pain, or excitement.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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