Shrieked: meaning, definitions and examples

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shrieked

 

[ ʃriːkt ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

past tense

Shrieked is the past tense of the verb 'shriek', which means to make a loud, high-pitched cry or scream, often due to fear, pain, or excitement. It conveys a sense of strong emotion and is typically associated with sudden, sharp sounds. The term can apply to both human and animal vocalizations. In narrative contexts, it often depicts moments of intense reaction or alarm.

Synonyms

howl, scream, wail, yell

Examples of usage

  • She shrieked in terror as the ghost appeared.
  • The children shrieked with joy when they saw the puppy.
  • He shrieked when he accidentally touched the hot stove.
  • The audience shrieked in delight at the magician's trick.

Translations

Translations of the word "shrieked" in other languages:

🇵🇹 gritou

🇮🇳 चिल्लाया

🇩🇪 geschrien

🇮🇩 berteriak

🇺🇦 закричав

🇵🇱 krzyknął

🇯🇵 叫んだ

🇫🇷 crié

🇪🇸 gritó

🇹🇷 çığlık attı

🇰🇷 소리쳤다

🇸🇦 صرخ

🇨🇿 zakřičel

🇸🇰 zakričal

🇨🇳 尖叫了

🇸🇮 zakričal

🇮🇸 hrópaði

🇰🇿 шақырды

🇬🇪 ყვიროდა

🇦🇿 qışqırdı

🇲🇽 gritó

Word origin

The word 'shriek' originates from the Old English 'scrēcan', which meant 'to cry out or scream'. This word evolved through Middle English as 'shreek', maintaining the core meaning associated with high-pitched vocalizations. The use of 'shrieked' became more prevalent as the English language evolved, especially during the transition from Middle to Early Modern English. The phonetic changes and the influence of neighboring dialects helped solidify its current form, emphasizing the emotional response tied to the act of shrieking. Over centuries, 'shriek' has become a standard term in literature and everyday speech, effectively conveying surprise, fear, or extreme enthusiasm. Its Noun form is present as well, capturing the essence of the sound itself.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #17,605, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.