To shout means to speak or cry out very loudly. You might shout across a playground to get your friend's attention, or shout a warning when you see someone about to step into danger. Coaches shout instructions during games, and audiences shout with excitement when their team scores.

Sometimes people shout because they're angry or frustrated, raising their voices in an argument. Other times they shout from pure joy, like when celebrating a victory or greeting someone they haven't seen in a long time. The volume and emotion make shouting different from normal talking: it's loud, forceful, and hard to ignore.

As a noun, a shout is the loud cry itself. You might hear shouts of laughter from kids playing outside, or a teacher's shout of “Quiet down!” when the classroom gets too noisy. The expression “give someone a shout” means to contact them or get their attention, usually in a casual, friendly way.