WordGarden.iosquawk
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /skwˈɔːk/
US
- /ˈskwɔk/
Meanings
Verb
to complain or protest loudly and abruptly
to make a loud harsh cry like a bird
Noun
a loud complaint or protest
a loud harsh birdlike cry
Beyond the definition
This isn't a gentle chirp. It's the kind of loud, sudden sound a parrot might make, or the kind of noisy protest a person might give when they strongly disagree with something. Think of a startled chicken letting out a sharp cry. You can make a squawk, and you can also describe someone letting out a squawk when they hear bad news. Sometimes the word can even describe a harsh noise from an object, like an old floorboard under a heavy step. It's most often linked to birds, but people do it too, especially when they feel upset, surprised, or treated unfairly.
A squawk is a sharp, loud, and often harsh cry or sound. While most famously associated with birds—think parrots, crows, or gulls—it is not limited to the avian world. A person might squawk in protest when presented with an unfair situation, letting out a vocal outburst of disagreement. For example, "He squawked loudly when he realized he'd been charged twice for his coffee."
The sound itself often suggests surprise, annoyance, or objection. Inanimate objects can also be said to squawk if they produce a jarring, high-pitched noise, such as a rusty hinge or floorboards showing their age. In modern technical contexts, especially in aviation, the word has a specialized meaning: to "squawk" is to set a transponder to a specific code so air traffic control can identify the aircraft on radar.
Whether it's a bird announcing its presence, a person voicing their displeasure, or a pilot identifying their aircraft to a controller, a squawk is always a noticeable and often jarring sound that demands attention.
Examples
- 1
Bird sounds
The gulls squawked over the harbor at sunrise.
- 2
Child protest
The toddler squawked when his sister grabbed the toy.
- 3
Travel complaint
One passenger started to squawk about the extra baggage fee.
- Patternsquawk about + problem
complain loudly about it
- 4
Online complaints
If the app is down for even a few minutes, users begin squawking on social media.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
No complaint
She signed the new contract without a squawk.
- Phrasewithout a squawk
without complaining
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- squawknounverb
Forms
- squawking-ing formverbnoun
- squawkspluralnounverb
- squawkedpast tenseverbnoun