Scream 和 shout 這兩個動詞都有「叫出聲音」或「發出叫聲」的意思，但兩者的含意並不相同，不能混為一談。譬如說，在 I shouted his name at the top of my voice. (我拼命地喊他的名字) 這句中，shouted 不可用 screamed 來代替，因為「叫喊 (名字)」的英文是 to shout one’s name。
Scream 意為「尖叫；驚呼」，是指由於害怕、興奮、痛苦或類似歇斯底里的憤怒而突然發出大聲尖銳刺耳的叫喊，如 His mother was always screaming hysterically. (他媽媽老是歇斯底里地尖叫著)；Mary screamed when she saw her baby fall. (當瑪麗看到她的嬰兒摔下來時，她尖聲叫了出來)；He screamed for help. (他大聲求救)；They were screaming with delight/pain/fright/rage. (他們高興/痛苦/驚恐/憤怒地尖叫著)。
Shout 意為「呼喊；呼叫；喊叫」，是指以一個人的最高音調喊叫，如 He shouted downstairs. (他在樓下大叫)；Those students shouted for joy. (那些學生大聲歡呼)；He shouted for help. (他大聲求救)；Linda shouted at/to his son to do his homework. (琳達喊他的兒子，叫他去做功課)。
再者，scream 和 shout 皆還可當 (可數) 名詞用，前者意為「尖叫；尖叫聲」，後者意為「呼喊；喊叫聲，如 He let out a scream of laughter. (他發出刺耳的笑聲)；He let out a shout of laughter. (他發出笑聲)；There were shouts of pain from people knifed and injured by Cheng Chieh. (被鄭捷砍傷的民眾發出陣陣痛苦的叫聲)。