Meaning & use
squeak
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
A short, high, thin sound, such as the cry of a mouse or the noise of a rusty hinge.
Grammar: Often with a: let out a squeak.
Patterns
- give a squeak
- a squeak of something
The mouse gave a tiny squeak and ran under the cupboard.
I heard a squeak from the door as it opened.
There was a squeak of brakes as the bus stopped.
verbintransitive
To make a short, high, thin sound.
Grammar: No object: the door squeaked.
Patterns
- squeak when something happens
The floorboards squeaked as she crept downstairs.
His new shoes squeaked on the polished floor.
The wheel squeaks every time I turn it.
verbtransitive or intransitive
To speak in a high, thin voice, especially from fear or excitement.
Grammar: Can take a quote or object: squeak a reply.
Patterns
- squeak something out
Nervous, she squeaked a reply.
'Not me!' he squeaked.
His voice squeaked as it began to change.
verbphrasal verbinformal
To succeed or pass by only a very small margin.
Grammar: Usually used with by, through or past: squeak by.
Patterns
- squeak by
- squeak through
- squeak past something
Our team squeaked through to the finals on goal difference.
She squeaked by with a passing grade.
The bill squeaked past the vote by a single ballot.
Word forms
| plural | squeaks |
|---|---|
| third person singular | squeaks |
| past tense | squeaked |
| past participle | squeaked |
| -ing form | squeaking |
Common combinations
- tiny squeak
- A tiny squeak came from the box.
- squeak of delight
- She let out a squeak of delight.
- squeaky door
- The squeaky door woke the baby.
- squeak by
- We squeaked by with only one point.
- narrow squeak
- It was a narrow squeak, but we caught the train.
- squeak with fear
- He squeaked with fear when the lights went out.
Synonyms and how they differ
- creak
- A creak is a longer, lower groaning noise of wood or hinges, while a squeak is shorter and higher.
- squeal
- A squeal is louder and longer than a squeak, often from pain or excitement.
- peep
- A peep is a very faint sound, usually from a bird, while a squeak is more distinct.
- screech
- A screech is much harsher and louder than the thin sound of a squeak.
Opposites
Word family
- squeaky adjective
- making high, short sounds
- squeaker noun
- something that squeaks, or a very close contest
- squeakily adverb
- in a squeaking way
- squeaky clean adjective
- perfectly clean or beyond criticism
Commonly confused: squeak or squeal?
squeak vs squeal
Squeal is a longer, louder cry, while squeak is brief and thin.
Practice
We only just made it, and the winning goal at the last second meant we ______ into the next round.
Choose one answer.
Squeak into or through means to succeed by the narrowest margin. Squealed and screeched describe loud sounds, not narrow success.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “squeak”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.