cry

[ krahy ]

verb (used without object)

, cried, cry·ing.

1. to utter inarticulate sounds, especially of lamentation, grief, or suffering, usually with tears.

   Synonyms: moan, keen, wail

2. to weep; shed tears, with or without sound.

   Synonyms: whimper, bawl, sob

3. to call loudly; shout; yell (sometimes followed by out ).

   Synonyms: scream, ejaculate, exclaim, vociferate, clamor, bawl, yowl

4. to demand resolution or strongly indicate a particular disposition:

   The rise in crime cried out for greater police protection.

5. to give forth vocal sounds or characteristic calls, as animals; yelp; bark.
6. (of a hound or pack) to bay continuously and excitedly in following a scent.
7. (of tin) to make a noise, when bent, like the crumpling of paper.

verb (used with object)

, cried, cry·ing.

1. to utter or pronounce loudly; call out.
2. to announce publicly as for sale; advertise:

   to cry one's wares.

3. to beg or plead for; implore:

   to cry mercy.

4. to bring (oneself ) to a specified state by weeping:

   The infant cried itself to sleep.

noun

, plural cries.

1. the act or sound of crying; any loud utterance or exclamation; a shout, scream, or wail.
2. clamor; outcry.
3. a fit of weeping:

   to have a good cry.

4. the utterance or call of an animal.
5. a political or party slogan.
6. battle cry.
7. an oral proclamation or announcement.
8. a call of wares for sale, services available, etc., as by a street vendor.
9. public report.
10. an opinion generally expressed.
11. an entreaty; appeal.
12. Fox Hunting.
    1. a pack of hounds.
    2. a continuous baying of a hound or a pack in following a scent.

verb phrase

1. to break a promise, agreement, etc.:

   We made arrangements to purchase a house, but the owner cried off at the last minute.

2. to praise; extol:

   to cry up one's profession.

3. to disparage; belittle:

   Those people cry down everyone who differs from them.

cry

/ kraɪ /

verb

1. intr to utter inarticulate sounds, esp when weeping; sob
2. intr to shed tears; weep
3. intrusually foll byout to scream or shout in pain, terror, etc
4. troften foll byout to utter or shout (words of appeal, exclamation, fear, etc)
5. introften foll byout (of animals, birds, etc) to utter loud characteristic sounds
6. tr to hawk or sell by public announcement

   to cry newspapers

7. to announce (something) publicly or in the streets
8. intrfoll byfor to clamour or beg
9. to call
10. cry for the moon
    to desire the unattainable
11. cry one's eyes out or cry one's heart out
    to weep bitterly
12. cry quits or cry mercy
    to give up a task, fight, etc

noun

1. the act or sound of crying; a shout, exclamation, scream, or wail
2. the characteristic utterance of an animal or bird

   the cry of gulls

3. a call
4. archaic.
   an oral announcement, esp one made by town criers
5. a fit of weeping
6. hunting the baying of a pack of hounds hunting their quarry by scent
7. a pack of hounds
8. a far cry
   1. a long way
   2. something very different
9. in full cry
   (esp of a pack of hounds) in hot pursuit of a quarry

Other Words From

• counter·cry noun plural countercries

Word History and Origins

Origin of cry¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English verb crien, from Anglo-French, Old French crier, from unattested Vulgar Latin crītāre for Latin quirītāre “to cry out in protest, make a public cry”; associated by folk etymology with Quirītēs Quirites; noun from the verb

Word History and Origins

Origin of cry¹

C13: from Old French crier, from Latin quirītāre to call for help

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. a far cry,
   1. quite some distance; a long way.
   2. only remotely related; very different:

      This treatment is a far cry from that which we received before.

2. cry one's eyes / heart out, to cry excessively or inconsolably:

   The little girl cried her eyes out when her cat died.

3. in full cry, in hot pursuit:

   The pack followed in full cry.

4. cry havoc. havoc ( def 4 ).
5. cry over spilled / spilt milk. milk ( def 12 ).

Synonym Study

Cry, shout, bellow, roar refer to kinds of loud articulate or inarticulate sounds. Cry is the general word: to cry out. To shout is to raise the voice loudly in uttering words or other articulate sounds: He shouted to his companions. Bellow refers to the loud, deep cry of a bull, moose, etc., or, somewhat in deprecation, to human utterance that suggests such a sound: The speaker bellowed his answer. Roar refers to a deep, hoarse, rumbling or vibrant cry, often of tumultuous volume: The crowd roared approval.

Example Sentences

Ms Riley's name became a rallying cry for conservatives as border security emerged as a defining issue in the White House race.

From BBC

“I love the movie that inspired it. But then if it gets at life outside of it … I go on TikTok and see these videos people make with the song and stuff like that. Some of them just really make you cry.”

From Los Angeles Times

Eastwood’s decades-long career has yielded massive theatrical hits, such as “Million Dollar Baby” and “American Sniper,” though his 2021 film “Cry Macho” underperformed at the box office.

From Los Angeles Times

The English actor Douglas Hodge, who won a Tony for his performance as Albin in the 2010 Broadway revival, delivered the number like a stark cry from the heart, without neglecting the rousing life-affirming place from which the lyrics and music emerge.

From Los Angeles Times

"Looking at you - and I'm sorry to say this - I wondered whether we'd ever see you cry," El-Bouroumi asked at one point.

From BBC

Related Words

• bark
• bellow
• call
• cheer
• exclaim
• holler
• howl
• roar
• scream
• shout
• shriek
• whoop
• yawp
• yell
• yelp