cry

cry (kr

)

v. cried (kr

d), cry·ing, cries (kr

v.intr.

1. To sob or shed tears because of grief, sorrow, or pain; weep.

2. To call loudly; shout.

3. To utter a characteristic sound or call. Used of an animal.

4. To demand or require immediate action or remedy: grievances crying out for redress.

v.tr.

1. To utter loudly; call out.

2. To proclaim or announce in public: crying one's wares in the marketplace.

3. To bring into a particular condition by weeping: cry oneself to sleep.

4. Archaic To beg for; implore: cry forgiveness.

n. pl. cries (kr

1. A loud utterance of an emotion, such as fear, anger, or despair.

2. A loud exclamation; a shout or call.

3. A fit of weeping: had a good long cry.

4. An urgent entreaty or appeal.

5. A public or general demand or complaint.

6. A common view or general report.

7. An advertising of wares by calling out: venders' cries at the fish market.

8. A rallying call or signal: a cry to arms.

9. A slogan, especially a political one.

10. The characteristic call or utterance of an animal.

11.

a. The baying of hounds during the chase.

b. A pack of hounds.

12. Obsolete Clamor; outcry.

13. Obsolete A public announcement; a proclamation.

Phrasal Verbs:

cry down

To belittle or disparage.

cry off

To break or withdraw from a promise, agreement, or undertaking.

cry up

To praise highly; extol.

Idioms:

cry havoc

To sound an alarm; warn.

cry (one's) eyes/heart out

To weep inconsolably for a long time.

cry on (someone's) shoulder

To tell one's problems to someone else in an attempt to gain sympathy or consolation.

cry over spilled milk

To regret in vain what cannot be undone or rectified.

cry wolf

To raise a false alarm.

for crying out loud

Used to express annoyance or astonishment: Let's get going, for crying out loud!

in full cry

In hot pursuit, as hounds hunting.

[Middle English crien, from Old French crier, from Vulgar Latin *critre, from Latin quirtre, to cry out, perhaps from Quirts, public officers to whom one would cry out in times of need.]

Synonyms: cry, weep, wail, keen², whimper, sob, blubber¹
These verbs mean to make inarticulate sounds of grief, unhappiness, or pain. Cry and weep both involve the shedding of tears; cry more strongly implies accompanying sound: "She cried without trying to suppress any of the noisier manifestations of grief and confusion" J. D. Salinger. "I weep for what I'm like when I'm alone" Theodore Roethke.
Wail refers primarily to sustained, inarticulate mournful sound: "The women . . . began to wail together; they mourned with shrill cries" Joseph Conrad.
Keen suggests wailing and lamentation for the dead: "It is the wild Irish women keening over their dead" George A. Lawrence.
Whimper refers to low, plaintive, broken or repressed cries: The condemned prisoner cowered and began to whimper for clemency.
Sob describes weeping or a mixture of broken speech and weeping marked by convulsive breathing or gasping: "sobbing and crying, and wringing her hands as if her heart would break" Laurence Sterne.
Blubber refers to noisy shedding of tears accompanied by broken or inarticulate speech: "When he drew out what had been a fiddle, crushed to morsels in the greatcoat, he blubbered aloud" Emily Brontë.

cry

Verb

[cries, crying, cried]

1. to shed tears

2. to make a loud vocal sound, usually to express pain or fear or to appeal for help

3. to utter loudly or shout

4. (of an animal or bird) to utter loud characteristic sounds

5. cry for to appeal urgently for

Noun

pl cries

1. a fit of weeping

2. the act or sound of crying

3. the characteristic utterance of an animal or bird

4. an urgent appeal: a cry for help

5. a public demand: a cry for more law and order on the streets

6. a far cry from something very different from

7. in full cry

a. in eager pursuit

b. in the middle of talking or doing something

See also cry off [Old French crier]

Cry of players: actors collectively-Lipton. Also, a cry of hounds.

ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

Noun	1.	cry - a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition; "the speaker was interrupted by loud cries from the rear of the audience" outcry, shout, vociferation, yell, call utterance, vocalization - the use of uttered sounds for auditory communication bellow, bellowing, holla, holler, hollering, hollo, holloa, yowl, roar, roaring - a very loud utterance (like the sound of an animal); "his bellow filled the hallway" blue murder - an extravagantly loud outcry; "she screamed blue murder" catcall - a cry expressing disapproval clamoring, clamour, clamouring, hue and cry, clamor - loud and persistent outcry from many people; "he ignored the clamor of the crowd" halloo - a shout to attract attention; "he gave a great halloo but no one heard him" hoot - a loud raucous cry (as of an owl) hosanna - a cry of praise or adoration (to God) noise - a loud outcry of protest or complaint; "the announcement of the election recount caused a lot of noise"; "whatever it was he didn't like it and he was going to let them know by making as loud a noise as he could" scream, screaming, shriek, shrieking, screech, screeching - sharp piercing cry; "her screaming attracted the neighbors" whoop - a loud hooting cry of exultation or excitement battle cry, war whoop, rallying cry, war cry - a yell intended to rally a group of soldiers in battle yelling, shouting - uttering a loud inarticulate cry as of pain or excitement yodel - a songlike cry in which the voice fluctuates rapidly between the normal voice and falsetto boo, Bronx cheer, razz, razzing, snort, hiss, hoot, raspberry, bird - a cry or noise made to express displeasure or contempt
	2.	cry - a loud utterance of emotion (especially when inarticulate); "a cry of rage"; "a yell of pain" yell utterance, vocalization - the use of uttered sounds for auditory communication complaint - (formerly) a loud cry (or repeated cries) of pain or rage or sorrow
	3.	cry - a slogan used to rally support for a cause; "a cry to arms"; "our watchword will be `democracy'" rallying cry, war cry, watchword, battle cry catchword, motto, shibboleth, slogan - a favorite saying of a sect or political group
	4.	cry - a fit of weeping; "had a good cry" ebullition, effusion, outburst, blowup, gush - an unrestrained expression of emotion
	5.	cry - the characteristic utterance of an animal; "animal cries filled the night" sound - the sudden occurrence of an audible event; "the sound awakened them" baa - the cry made by sheep bark - the sound made by a dog bay - the sound of a hound on the scent bleat - the sound of sheep or goats (or any sound resembling this) bray - the cry of an ass cackle - the sound made by a hen after laying an egg caterwaul - the yowling sound made by a cat in heat caw - the sound made by corvine birds cheep, peep - the short weak cry of a young bird cluck, clucking - the sound made by a hen (as in calling her chicks) coo - the sound made by a pigeon crow - the cry of a cock (or an imitation of it) gobble - the characteristic sound made by a turkey cock growl, growling - the sound of growling (as made by animals) honk - the cry of a goose (or any sound resembling this) howl - the long plaintive cry of a hound or a wolf meow, mew, miaou, miaow, miaul - the sound made by a cat (or any sound resembling this) moo - the sound made by a cow or bull neigh, nicker, whicker, whinny - the characteristic sounds made by a horse roar - the sound made by a lion yelp, yelping, yip - a sharp high-pitched cry (especially by a dog)
Verb	1.	cry - utter a sudden loud cry; "she cried with pain when the doctor inserted the needle"; "I yelled to her from the window but she couldn't hear me" scream, shout out, yell, squall, shout, holler, hollo, call call - utter in a loud voice or announce; "He called my name"; "The auctioneer called the bids" cry out, exclaim, call out, outcry, shout, cry - utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy; "`I won!' he exclaimed"; "`Help!' she cried"; "`I'm here,' the mother shouted when she saw her child looking lost" hollo - cry hollo hurrah - shout `hurrah!' halloo - shout `halloo', as when greeting someone or attracting attention whoop - shout, as if with joy or enthusiasm; "The children whooped when they were led to the picnic table" pipe, shriek, shrill, pipe up - utter a shrill cry let loose, let out, utter, emit - express audibly; utter sounds (not necessarily words); "She let out a big heavy sigh"; "He uttered strange sounds that nobody could understand" ululate, wail, yaup, yawl, howl, roar - emit long loud cries; "wail in self-pity"; "howl with sorrow" skreigh, squawk, screak, screech, skreak - utter a harsh abrupt scream cry out, exclaim, call out, outcry, shout, cry - utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy; "`I won!' he exclaimed"; "`Help!' she cried"; "`I'm here,' the mother shouted when she saw her child looking lost"
	2.	cry - shed tears because of sadness, rage, or pain; "She cried bitterly when she heard the news of his death"; "The girl in the wheelchair wept with frustration when she could not get up the stairs" weep mewl, pule, whimper, wail - cry weakly or softly; "she wailed with pain" cry - bring into a particular state by crying; "The little boy cried himself to sleep" bawl - cry loudly; "Don't bawl in public!" tear - fill with tears or shed tears; "Her eyes were tearing" sob - weep convulsively; "He was sobbing inconsolably" blub, blubber, sniffle, snivel, snuffle - cry or whine with snuffling; "Stop snivelling--you got yourself into this mess!" express emotion, express feelings - give verbal or other expression to one's feelings express joy, express mirth, laugh - produce laughter
	3.	cry - utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy; "`I won!' he exclaimed"; "`Help!' she cried"; "`I'm here,' the mother shouted when she saw her child looking lost" call out, cry out, exclaim, outcry, shout gee - give a command to a horse to turn to the right side aah, ooh - express admiration and pleasure by uttering `ooh' or `aah'; "They oohed and aahed when they unwrapped the presents" cry, scream, shout out, yell, squall, shout, holler, hollo, call - utter a sudden loud cry; "she cried with pain when the doctor inserted the needle"; "I yelled to her from the window but she couldn't hear me" give tongue to, utter, express, verbalise, verbalize - articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise; "She expressed her anger"; "He uttered a curse" call out - call out loudly, as of names or numbers
	4.	cry - proclaim or announce in public; "before we had newspapers, a town crier would cry the news"; "He cried his merchandise in the market square" blazon out announce, denote - make known; make an announcement; "She denoted her feelings clearly"
	5.	cry - demand immediate action; "This situation is crying for attention" need, want, require - have need of; "This piano wants the attention of a competent tuner"
	6.	cry - utter a characteristic sound; "The cat was crying" let loose, let out, utter, emit - express audibly; utter sounds (not necessarily words); "She let out a big heavy sigh"; "He uttered strange sounds that nobody could understand"
	7.	cry - bring into a particular state by crying; "The little boy cried himself to sleep" weep, cry - shed tears because of sadness, rage, or pain; "She cried bitterly when she heard the news of his death"; "The girl in the wheelchair wept with frustration when she could not get up the stairs" alter, change, modify - cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue"

cry

verb 1. weep, sob, bawl, shed tears, keen, greet Scot. (archaic) wail, whine, whimper, whinge (informal) blubber, snivel, yowl, howl your eyes out << OPPOSITE laugh