noun

squawk

skwawk

noun

A short, harsh cry, especially one made by a bird or a person in alarm.

"The parrot let out a squawk when the door slammed."

"She gave a squawk of surprise when the phone rang."

A loud complaint or objection.

"There was a squawk from the back row when ticket prices went up."

verb

To make a harsh, shrill cry.

"The seagulls squawked overhead as they fought over scraps."

To complain loudly or protest.

"Fans squawked online after the match was postponed."

How to Use Squawk

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA harsh, sudden cry — or to complain loudly about something.

Common pairings

squawk in protest a squawk of alarm

Word Forms

squawked past tense, squawks plural, squawk plural, squawked plural, squawks singular, squawk singular, squawked singular, squawkest singular, squawkedst singular, squawketh singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “squawk” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The parrot let out a _____ when the door slammed.

Etymology

First recorded in the early 1800s, almost certainly an imitation of the harsh cry itself.