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Synonyms

outcry

American  
[out-krahy, out-krahy] / ˈaʊtˌkraɪ, ˌaʊtˈkraɪ /

noun

plural

outcries

  1. a strong and usually public expression of protest, indignation, or the like.

  2. a crying out.

  3. loud clamor.

    Synonyms:
    commotion, uproar

  4. an auction.

verb (used with object)

outcried, outcrying

  1. to outdo in crying; cry louder than.

outcry British  

noun

  1. a widespread or vehement protest

  2. clamour; uproar

  3. commerce a method of trading in which dealers shout out bids and offers at a prearranged meeting

    sale by open outcry
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (tr) to cry louder or make more noise than (someone or something)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of outcry

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; out-, cry

Explanation

An outcry is an outburst or shout — either by one person, or by a group of people. Faced with the outcry of three kids under the age of ten, a frustrated babysitter may give in, letting them stay up past bedtime. When a teacher promises his class a pizza party at the end of the week, he can expect an outcry if the pizzas don't show up on Friday. This kind of outcry is a form of protest, a group of angry or passionate people raising their voices together. The older, fourteenth century meaning of outcry is simply "crying out." The "public protest" meaning was first used around 1910.

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Vocabulary lists containing outcry

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He doubled down on the criticism Monday following an outcry, saying he had "nothing to apologise for", and that the pope was "wrong".

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

Despite the public outcry, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was re-elected soon after the disaster and has survived two related no-confidence votes in parliament.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

That sparked a national outcry and hastened the end of the lockout.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026

The decision triggered an outcry, even within his own party.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 21, 2026

But the public outcry was so great, the governor called the superintendent and told him to start up the football program again, school or no school.

From "The Lions of Little Rock" by Kristin Levine

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.