squeal

1 of 2

verb

ˈskwēl 

squealed; squealing; squeals

intransitive verb

1

: to make a shrill cry or noise

2

a

: to turn informer

squeal to the police

b

: complain, protest

transitive verb

1

: to express with or as if with a squeal

2

: to cause to make a loud shrill noise

squealing the tires

squealer noun

squeal

2 of 2

noun

: a shrill sharp cry or noise

Synonyms

Verb

• fink
• grass (on) [British slang]
• inform
• rat (on)
• sing
• snitch
• split (on) [British]
• squeak
• talk
• tell (on)

Examples of squeal in a Sentence

Verb

The car squealed to a stop.

He squealed the tires and drove off.

She squealed to the teacher.

“Let me go,” she squealed.

Noun

She heard the pig's squeals.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

One day, when the cat in our local bodega poked its head out of the store, Ellie squealed like a child. —Camille Bromley Gabra Zackman Krish Seenivasan David Mason, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2025

So many sounds emerge, subtle things: drills, squealing, buzzing, vocal loops, along with guitar solos, shimmering guitar melodies, riffs, accents, and additional, complimentary guitar lines draped on top of each other. —Aaron Gilbreath, SPIN, 31 Dec. 2024

Noun

Barrymore squeals in disgust after reaching into her pocket and pulling out a sandwich. —Shyla Watson, People.com, 19 Dec. 2024

At the corner of St. Peter and Royal Streets, a tuba begins its rumbling and a trombone squeals; the instruments sparkle in the sunlight, glinting gold amid a gathering crowd. —Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 25 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English squelen, of imitative origin

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1747, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing squeal

• squeal on

Kids Definition

squeal

1 of 2 verb

ˈskwē(ə)l 

1

: to make a long shrill cry or noise

2

a

: inform sense 2

squealed to the teacher

b

: complain sense 1, protest

3

: to utter with or as if with a squeal

squealer noun

squeal

2 of 2 noun

: a long shrill cry or noise