Shrieking - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Shrieking means making a loud, high-pitched sound, often due to fear, excitement, or pain. It can describe both human voices and noises made by animals or objects. Example: The children were shrieking with laughter.
Definition:
Making a loud, high-pitched cry or sound, often due to fear or excitement.
Synonyms:
screaming, screeching, howling, wailing
Part of Speech:
adjective, noun
Antonyms:
whispering, murmuring
Common Collocations:
shrieking laughter, shrieking voice, shrieking noise
Derivatives:
shriek, shrieked
Usage Tips:
Use "shrieking" to describe very loud, sharp sounds, often involuntary reactions like fear or joy.
Common Phrases:
shrieking like a banshee, shrieking with laughter, shrieking in terror
Etymology:
Derived from Middle English "shreken," imitative of the sound itself.
Examples:
- 1. The children were shrieking with joy on the roller coaster.
- 2. She heard a shrieking noise outside her window at night.
- 3. The audience erupted in shrieking applause after the performance.
- 4. Birds were shrieking as the storm approached.