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."
"The screaming brakes of the bus made everyone on the pavement jump."
"A screaming kettle on the hob told us the water was ready."
2
Extremely obvious or glaring.
"It was a screaming contradiction that no one addressed."
"The report had a screaming error on its very first page."
"Leaving the door unlocked all night was a screaming invitation to thieves."
noun
1
The act of crying out loudly.
"The screaming from the playground could be heard down the street."
"The baby's screaming woke the whole house at dawn."
"We heard screaming from the fairground ride as it dropped."
How to use screaming
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishVery loud, or (figuratively) glaringly obvious.
Common pairings
screaming headline
screaming pain
screaming match
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Word forms
- Plural
- screamings
- Comparative
- more screaming
- Superlative
- most screaming
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ siren cut through the night.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for screaming
See all rhymes for screaming →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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