What does "squeak" mean?
A short, high-pitched sound, as of two objects rubbing together, or the sounds made by mice and other small animals.
Squeak
/skwiːk/ name, noun, verb, slang
name, noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A short, high-pitched sound, as of two objects rubbing together, or the sounds made by mice and other small animals.
- Grammar: squeak is listed as name, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: close call, bark, bawl, bay.
- Useful contrasts: calm, calm response, clear win.
- Usage evidence: Suddenly there was a sudden squeak somewhere. It was very sudden. Sudden... Try saying that word fifty times then using it in a sentence...
How to use "squeak"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "squeak" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "squeak" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "squeak" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "squeak" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "squeak" is acting as name, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "close call" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "squeak", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A short, high-pitched sound, as of two objects rubbing together, or the sounds made by mice and other small animals. countable
- 2 something achieved (or escaped) by a narrow margin wordnet
- 3 A card game similar to group solitaire. uncountable
- 4 a short high-pitched noise wordnet
- 5 A narrow squeak. countable, slang
""I had the very devil of a squeak for it," he went on. "I did the hurdles over two or three garden-walls, but so did the flyer who was on my tracks, and he drove me back into the straight and down to High Street like any lamplighter. […]"
Verb
- 1 To emit a short, high-pitched sound. intransitive
"But I must warn you that chipboard floors are always likely to squeak. The material is still being used in new-builds, but developers now use adhesive to bed and joint it, rather than screws or nails. I suspect the adhesive will eventually embrittle and crack, resulting in the same squeaking problems as before."
- 2 make a high-pitched, screeching noise wordnet
- 3 To inform, to squeal. intransitive, slang
"If he be obstinate, put a civil question to him upon the rack, and he squeaks, I warrant him."
- 4 To speak or sound in a high-pitched manner. transitive
- 5 To empty the pile of 13 cards a player deals to oneself in the card game of the same name. intransitive
Show 1 more definition
- 6 To win or progress by a narrow margin. informal, intransitive
"[…] allowing Parkinson to squeak into the final by a half-point margin."
Proper Noun
- 1 The British War Medal. UK, World-War-I, slang
Example
"Suddenly there was a sudden squeak somewhere. It was very sudden. Sudden... Try saying that word fifty times then using it in a sentence..."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "squeak"?
Common synonyms include: close call, bark, bawl, bay, bell, bellow.
How do you use "squeak" in a sentence?
Suddenly there was a sudden squeak somewhere. It was very sudden. Sudden... Try saying that word fifty times then using it in a sentence...
How do you pronounce "squeak"?
Pronounced /skwiːk/.
Etymology
An allusion to the newspaper cartoon strip Pip, Squeak and Wilfred.