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adj Common

screaming

SKREE-mihng

Screaming (adj) means very loud and high-pitched. Example: “A screaming siren cut through the night.”

adj
1
Very loud and high-pitched.
"A screaming siren cut through the night."
2
Extremely obvious or glaring.
"It was a screaming contradiction that no one addressed."
noun
1
The act of crying out loudly.
"The screaming from the playground could be heard down the street."

How to Use Screaming

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishVery loud, or (figuratively) glaringly obvious.

Common pairings
screaming headline screaming pain screaming match

Word Forms

more screaming comparative, screamings plural, most screaming superlative

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Test yourself on “screaming” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

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A _____ siren cut through the night.

Related Words

Rhymes for screaming

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does “screaming” mean?

The word “screaming” means very loud and high-pitched. In plain terms, very loud, or (figuratively) glaringly obvious.

How do you pronounce “screaming”?

“Screaming” is pronounced SKREE-mihng (/ˈskɹiːmɪŋ/ in IPA).

How do you use “screaming” in a sentence?

Here is “screaming” used in a sentence: “A screaming siren cut through the night.”

What is another word for “screaming”?

Words with a similar meaning to “screaming” include screeching and shrieking.

What part of speech is “screaming”?

Depending on how it is used, “screaming” can be an adjective and a noun.

Is “screaming” a common word?

“Screaming” is a fairly common word in modern English.

How many meanings does “screaming” have?

“Screaming” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: very loud and high-pitched.

What is the difference between "screaming" and "shouting"?

"Screaming" is very loud and high-pitched, often driven by fear, pain, or extreme emotion. "Shouting" is loud but usually controlled speech meant to be heard at a distance or in anger. A scream is a raw, piercing sound, while a shout carries words.

What is the difference between "screaming" and "yelling"?

"Screaming" is a very loud, high-pitched cry, often wordless and tied to strong emotion. "Yelling" means shouting words loudly, usually in anger or to get attention. Yelling typically carries a message, while screaming is more about the sheer sound.

How is "screaming" used to mean something obvious?

Besides describing a loud sound, "screaming" can mean extremely obvious or glaring, as in "a screaming error" or "the clues were screaming at us." Used this way it stresses that something is impossible to miss. The figurative sense keeps the idea of demanding attention.

What is the difference between "screaming" and "screeching"?

Both describe loud, high-pitched sounds. "Screaming" is typically a human cry of strong emotion, while "screeching" is a harsh, grating, scraping sound, like brakes or a bird. Screeching emphasizes a rough, jarring quality that screaming does not require.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial