complain

American  

[kuhm-pleyn] / kəmˈpleɪn /

verb (used without object)

1. to express dissatisfaction, pain, uneasiness, censure, resentment, or grief; find fault.

   He complained constantly about the noise in the corridor.

   Antonyms:

   rejoice

2. to tell of one's pains, ailments, etc..

   to complain of a backache.

3. to make a formal accusation.

   If you think you've been swindled, complain to the police.

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complain British  

/ kəmˈpleɪn /

verb

1. to express resentment, displeasure, etc, esp habitually; grumble

2. (foll by of) to state the presence of pain, illness, etc, esp in the hope of sympathy

   she complained of a headache

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complain Idioms  

1. see can't complain.

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Related Words

Complain, grumble, growl, whine are terms for expressing dissatisfaction or discomfort. To complain is to protest against or lament a wrong: to complain about high prices. To grumble is to utter ill-natured complaints half to oneself: to grumble about the service. Growl may express more anger than grumble : to growl in reply to a question. To whine is to complain in a meanspirited way, using a nasal tone: to whine like a coward, like a spoiled child.

Other Word Forms

• complainable adjective
• complainer noun
• complainingly adverb
• uncomplained adjective
• uncomplaining adjective
• uncomplainingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of complain

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English compleinen, from Anglo-French compleign-, stem of compleindre, Old French complaindre, from Vulgar Latin complangere (unrecorded), from Latin com- com- + plangere “to beat, lament, strike”; see plaint

Explanation

To complain is to express your unhappiness about something. You might complain to your landlord about a raise in your rent, or to the cops about your noisy neighbors. Just don't whine; it won't get you anywhere. Speakers of Yiddish will know that complain is often interchangeable with kvetch, which is what you do when you don't like the food or the small portions. But you can complain in a more formal way by, say, writing a letter or even filing a lawsuit. But whether the issue is large or small, do yourself a favor and don't complain too often, or people might stop taking you seriously.

Example Sentences

DOJ lawyers responding to the bids for freedom now regularly complain they’re being crushed under paperwork.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 19, 2026

If you don’t start to read a putt until it is your turn, and you do that 18 times, you have lost your license to complain about the pace of others.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

The building bonanza is likely to boost GDP, analysts say, but some caution that it comes with risks, while residents displaced in the name of progress complain of being left behind.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

At other times, he stopped midsong to complain about the lights before restarting.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

As they waited for an answer, they continued to complain and pick fights with each other.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood

Related Words

• accuse
• criticize
• denounce
• disagree
• fret
• gripe
• grumble
• lament
• moan
• object
• oppose
• protest