croak

UK: /ˈkrəʊk/ US: /kroʊk/ ,(krōk)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

croak /kroʊk/   v. 

1. Animal Behavior to utter a low, harsh cry, such as the sound of a frog:
   [no object] frogs croaking in the evening.
2. to speak with a low, hoarse, scratchy voice: [no object]
   Because of her sore throat she was croaking all day.
   [~ + object]
   He croaked his answer from bed.
   [used with quotations]
   "I feel like I'm gonna die,'' he croaked after his tonsillectomy.
3. Slang Terms Slang. to die:
   [no object] He almost croaked right there, but we rescued him.

n. [countable]

4. the act or sound of croaking:
   the croaks of the bullfrogs.

croak•y, adj., -i•er, -i•est. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

croak  (krōk), v.i. 

1. Animal Behavior to utter a low-pitched, harsh cry, as the sound of a frog or a raven.
2. to speak with a low, rasping voice.
3. Slang Terms to die.
4. to talk despondingly;
   prophesy trouble or evil;
   grumble.

v.t. 

5. to utter or announce by croaking.
6. Slang Terms to kill.

n. 

7. the act or sound of croaking.

• 1550–60; earlier croke, probably imitative; compare Old English cræcetian (of a raven) to croak

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

croak / krəʊk/ verb

1. (intransitive) (of frogs, crows, etc) to make a low, hoarse cry
2. to utter (something) in this manner
3. (intransitive) to grumble or be pessimistic
4. (intransitive) to die
5. (transitive) to kill

noun

1. a low hoarse utterance or sound

Etymology: Old English crācettan; related to Old Norse krāka a crow; see creak

ˈcroaky adjective

ˈcroakiness noun