scream
scream — verb
1. to produce a very loud, high-pitched cry or shout from your mouth, usually becau
to produce a very loud, high-pitched cry or shout from your mouth, usually because you are frightened, angry, excited, or in physical pain
The toddler screamed when the nurse gave her a vaccination shot.
scream + when-clause for cause of fear/pain
Fans screamed with joy as the band stepped onto the brightly lit stage.
scream + with + emotion (joy/excitement)
The driver screamed at the cyclist for swerving into oncoming traffic.
Lakshmi screamed that the kitchen was on fire and everyone should get out.
"Look out behind you!" Jenna screamed as the car came speeding toward them.
- shriek
even higher-pitched and more startling than scream, usually from sudden fear
- yell
loud and forceful but not necessarily high-pitched; common for anger or calling out
- shout
a neutral term for a loud voice; can be positive or negative
- screech
harsh, grating sound; often used for animals or tyres, not typically human emotion
- whisper
the opposite vocal register — very quiet, meant only for nearby listeners
文法句型
scream
scream + at + person
scream + with + emotion
scream + that-clause
scream + speech
用法筆記
The preposition with introduces the emotion behind the scream (scream with laughter, scream with terror). When using a that-clause, the content is typically urgent or alarming. This sense can also take a direct quote immediately after the verb.
常見錯誤
2. to travel at high speed while giving off a sustained, high-pitched noise — used
to travel at high speed while giving off a sustained, high-pitched noise — used for racing cars, trains, ambulances, and other fast vehicles
A police car screamed past the school with its lights flashing wildly.
vehicle + screams + adverb of direction (past)
The ambulance screamed down the empty highway during the midnight emergency.
vehicle + screams + adverb (down) + setting
Race cars screamed around the sharp corner during the final lap of the competition.
The express train screamed through the small station without slowing down at all.
文法句型
vehicle + screams + adverb (past / down / through / along)
用法筆記
The subject is always a fast-moving vehicle or a mechanical device associated with motion. Common in narrative writing to add urgency. Typically paired with a directional adverb (past, down, through, around, along).
常見錯誤
3. to produce a piercing, high-pitched, and typically grating noise — used for alar
to produce a piercing, high-pitched, and typically grating noise — used for alarms, machinery, electric guitars, birds, and other objects or animals
The fire alarm screamed throughout the entire building at two in the morning.
alarm/device + screams for loud warning sound
Electric guitars screamed through the amplifiers during the band's final song.
Birds screamed overhead as the stray cat crept toward their nest of eggs.
The old factory machinery screamed every time the power came back on.
文法句型
object + screams
object + screams + adverb
用法筆記
Unlike sense 2 (SPEEDING VEHICLE), this sense does not imply fast movement — it focuses purely on the unpleasant, piercing quality of the sound itself. The subject can be any object or animal that produces such a sound.
4. if a word, image, colour, or design screams, it is so large, bright, or striking
if a word, image, colour, or design screams, it is so large, bright, or striking that it immediately gets your attention and cannot be ignored
The newspaper headline screamed "Storm of the Century" across the front page.
headline + screams + direct quote for striking text
Her bright red dress screamed for attention at the formal dinner party.
The advertisement screamed luxury with its gold lettering and designer photos.
That bright yellow sign on the highway screams danger to every driver on the road.
- blend in
the opposite — to be unnoticeable, to not attract attention
文法句型
word/image/color + screams + (out)
word/image/color + screams + noun
用法筆記
Common in informal journalism, advertising, and descriptive writing. The figurative meaning relies on visual exaggeration — the element is so prominent it feels like it is shouting at the viewer. The preposition 'out' (scream out) adds emphasis, as in 'The price tag screams out luxury.'
scream — noun
1. a loud, high-pitched sound produced by a person's mouth when they are very frigh
a loud, high-pitched sound produced by a person's mouth when they are very frightened, angry, excited, or in pain
A loud scream came from the dark alley behind the old theater.
countable: a + adjective + scream
Rania let out a scream of joy when she saw the acceptance letter in the mail.
let out a scream of + emotion
The child's scream could be heard clearly throughout the entire shopping mall.
The sudden scream startled everyone sitting in the quiet library that afternoon.
Her scream echoed through the canyon for a few seconds after she fell.
- whisper
the softest vocal sound, opposite in volume and pitch
文法句型
a + scream
a + (adjective) + scream
let out a scream
hear a scream
用法筆記
Unlike the verb sense (which can be transitive or intransitive), the noun is always countable. Common collocations include adjectives that intensify the sound: loud, piercing, blood-curdling, terrifying. The pattern 'a scream of + emotion' (scream of pain, scream of terror, scream of delight) is very frequent and natural.
常見錯誤
2. an informal expression describing somebody or something that is highly amusing a
an informal expression describing somebody or something that is highly amusing and causes you to laugh a lot
The comedy show at the old town hall was an absolute scream from start to finish.
a + (intensifier) + scream for 'extremely funny'
Maeve's story about getting locked in the museum bathroom was a total scream.
That video of the cat trying to catch a laser pointer dot is a real scream.
The whole situation at the office party last Friday was an absolute scream.
文法句型
a + scream
be a scream
a total / absolute scream
用法筆記
This sense is always used in the pattern 'a [modifier] scream' — the noun is never used alone in this meaning. Typical modifiers: absolute, total, real, complete. This idiom is more common in British English than American English. It describes something amusing rather than something literally causing a scream of laughter.