Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense cries, present participle crying, past tense, past participle cried
1. verb
When you cry, tears come from your eyes, usually because you are unhappy or hurt.
I hung up the phone and started to cry. [VERB]
Please don't cry. [VERB]
He cried with anger and frustration. [VERB + with]
...a crying baby. [VERB-ing]
Synonyms: weep, sob, bawl, shed tears More Synonyms of cry
Cry is also a noun.
A nurse patted me on the shoulder and said, 'You have a good cry, dear.'
cryinguncountable noun [usually with poss]
She had been unable to sleep for three days because of her 13-week-old son's crying.
2. verb
If you cry something, you shout it or say it loudly.
'Nancy Drew,' she cried, 'you're under arrest!'. [VERB with quote]
I cried: 'It's wonderful news!' [VERB with quote]
[Also VERB that]
Cry out means the same as cry.
'You're wrong, quite wrong!' Henry cried out, suddenly excited. [VERBPARTICLE with quote]
She cried out that no storm was going to stop her. [VERBPARTICLE that]
[Also VERBPARTICLE noun]
3. countable noun
A cry is a loud, high sound that you make when you feel a strong emotion such as fear, pain, or pleasure.
A cry of horror broke from me. [+ of]
Her brother gave a cry of recognition.
With a cry, she rushed forward.
Synonyms: shout, call, bell, scream More Synonyms of cry
4. countable noun
A cry is a shouted word or phrase, usually one that is intended to attract someone's attention.
Thousands of people burst into cries of 'bravo' on the steps of the parliament. [+ of]
Passers-by heard his cries for help. [+ for]
5. See also battle cry, rallying cry
6. countable noun
You can refer to a public protest about something or an appeal for something as a cry of some kind.
[journalism]
There have been cries of outrage about this expenditure. [+ of]
Many other countries have turned a deaf ear to their cries for help.
[Also+ for]
Synonyms: appeal, prayer, plea, petition More Synonyms of cry
7. countable noun
A bird's or animal's cry is the loud, high sound that it makes.
...the cry of a seagull. [+ of]
8. See also crying
9.
See a far cry from
10.
See in full cry
11.
See for crying out loud
12. to cry your eyes out
13. a shoulder to cry on
Phrasal verbs:
See cry off
See cry out
See cry out for
More Synonyms of cry
cry in British English
(kraɪ)
verbWord forms: cries, crying or cried
1. (intransitive)
to utter inarticulate sounds, esp when weeping; sob
2. (intransitive)
to shed tears; weep
3. (intransitive; usually foll byout)
to scream or shout in pain, terror, etc
4. (transitive; often foll byout)
to utter or shout (words of appeal, exclamation, fear, etc)
5. (intransitive; often foll byout)
(of animals, birds, etc) to utter loud characteristic sounds
6. (transitive)
to hawk or sell by public announcement
to cry newspapers
7.
to announce (something) publicly or in the streets
8. (intransitive; foll byfor)
to clamour or beg
9. Scottish
to call
10. cry for the moon
11. cry one's eyes out
12. cry quits
nounWord forms: pluralcries
13.
the act or sound of crying; a shout, exclamation, scream, or wail
14.
the characteristic utterance of an animal or bird
the cry of gulls
15. Scottish
a call
16. archaic
an oral announcement, esp one made by town criers
17.
a fit of weeping
18. hunting
the baying of a pack of hounds hunting their quarry by scent
19.
a pack of hounds
20. a far cry
21. in full cry
Word origin
C13: from Old French crier, from Latin quirītāre to call for help
cry in American English
(kraɪ)
verb intransitiveWord forms: cried or ˈcrying
1.
to make a loud vocal sound or utterance; call out, as for help; shout
2.
to sob and shed tears, in expressing sorrow, pain, grief, etc.; weep
3.
a.
to plead or clamor (for)
b.
to show or suggest a great need (for)
problems crying for solution
4.
to utter its characteristic call
said of an animal
verb transitive
5.
to plead or beg for
to cry quarter
6.
to utter loudly; shout; exclaim
7.
to call out (wares for sale, services offered, etc.); announce publicly
8.
to bring into a specified condition by crying
to cry oneself asleep
nounWord forms: pluralcries
9.
a loud vocal sound expressing pain, anger, fright, joy, etc.
10.
any loud utterance; shout
11.
an announcement or advertisement called out publicly
12.
an urgent appeal; plea
13.
popular report; rumor; rallying call or battle cry; watchword
14.
the current opinion or fashion
15.
clamor of the people; public outcry
16.
a slogan
17.
a sobbing and shedding of tears; fit of weeping
18.
the characteristic vocal sound of an animal
19.
a.
the baying of hounds in the chase
b.
a pack of hounds
Idioms:
a far cry
cry down
cry in one's beer
cry off
cry one's eyes out
cry out
cry up
in full cry
SYNONYMY NOTE: cry implies the expression of grief, sorrow, pain or distress by making mournful, convulsivesounds and shedding tears; , weep more specifically stresses the shedding of tears; to , sob1 is to weep aloud with a catch in the voice and short, gasping breaths; , wail implies the uttering of loud, prolonged, mournful cries in unsuppressed lamentation;, keen2, specifically an Irish term, signifies a wailing in lamentation for the dead; to, whimper is to cry with subdued, whining, broken sounds, as a fretful or frightened childdoes; , moan suggests the expression of sorrow or pain in a low, prolonged, mournful sound orsounds; , blubber2, a derisive term used chiefly of children, implies a contorting or swelling of theface with weeping, and broken, inarticulate speech
Word origin
ME crien < OFr crier < L quiritare, to wail, shriek (var. of quirritare, to squeal like a pig < *quis, echoic of a squeal); assoc. in ancient folk etym. with L Quirites, Roman citizens (as if meaning “to call the Quirites,” implore their help)
More idioms containing
cry
cry your heart out
cry your eyes out
in full cry
a far cry from something
a hue and cry
a shoulder to cry on
cry wolf
Examples of 'cry' in a sentence
cry
There is no point crying about it.
The Sun (2017)
She was definitely crying out for help.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Life was relaxed and a far cry from the hectic holidays of the past.
The Sun (2017)
Is it just another cry for attention from a man who admits he is a compulsive showman?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It was a cry for help.
The Sun (2016)
In fact, one or two cried when they heard the news of his illness and death.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I wanted to cry, shout and curl up all at once.
The Sun (2016)
Police said that the man, who has not been named, uttered the same cry when he was arrested.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It sounded like a cry for help.
The Sun (2015)
Sit right up this very minute and tell me what you are crying about.
LM Montgomery Anne of Green Gables (1872)
The apologists have been in full cry.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They say that a beard is a cry for help.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
This could be a cry for attention.
The Sun (2013)
We met loads of times and on my last day he cried and begged me to stay.
The Sun (2009)
They shouted and cried out to us.
Stewart, Bob (Lt-Col) Broken Lives (1993)
You can find something beautiful and cry simply because it is so beautiful.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Real or imagined the animal cry that woke me?
The Times Literary Supplement (2008)
She sprang to her feet and actually uttered a cry of terror.
Frances Hodgson Burnett Little Lord Fauntleroy (1886)
Long moments dragged by until he heard the loud and lusty cry of a babe.
Kathleen E. Woodiwiss THE WOLF AND THE DOVE
He cried at the sound of my voice but said too many years had gone past.
The Sun (2015)
It still makes me cry to think about that night.
The Sun (2014)
Shortly afterward his pursuers come pouring down the passage in full cry.
Clerk, Jayana & Siegel, Ruth Modern Literatures of the Non-Western World: Where the Waters Are Born (1995)
The police heard cries for help from inside and arrested the two occupants of the vehicle.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It appears to have been more of a cry attention.
The Sun (2008)
The initial outburst of horror from one camp and cries of foul from the other appear to have softened.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
There were the familiar cries of 'You the man!
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It's all a far cry from cuddling kittens and world peace.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The street party one, or the crying one?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
I once saw a bird utter that cry while flying over the eponymous bridge.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
One said 'You made me cry'.
The Sun (2012)
Quotations
It is no use crying over spilt milk
In other languages
cry
British English: cry /kraɪ/ NOUN
A cry is a loud sound that you make with your voice.
I heard the cry of a bird.
American English: cry
Arabic: بُكَاء
Brazilian Portuguese: grito
Chinese: 哭泣
Croatian: krik
Czech: výkřik
Danish: skrig additional def
Dutch: kreet
European Spanish: grito
Finnish: itku
French: cri
German: Weinen
Greek: κραυγή
Italian: verso
Japanese: 泣き叫ぶ声
Korean: 울음 소리
Norwegian: gråt
Polish: płacz
European Portuguese: choro
Romanian: strigăt
Russian: плач
Latin American Spanish: chillido
Swedish: skrik
Thai: เสียงร้อง
Turkish: çığlık
Ukrainian: крик
Vietnamese: tiếng kêu lớn
British English: cry /kraɪ/ VERB
When you cry, tears come from your eyes. People cry when they are sad or hurt.
The baby started to cry.
American English: cry
Arabic: يَبْكِي
Brazilian Portuguese: chorar
Chinese: 哭泣
Croatian: plakati
Czech: plakat
Danish: græde
Dutch: huilen
European Spanish: llorar
Finnish: itkeä
French: pleurer
German: weinen
Greek: κλαίω
Italian: piangere
Japanese: 泣く
Korean: 울다
Norwegian: rope
Polish: zapłakać
European Portuguese: chorar
Romanian: plângere
Russian: плакать
Latin American Spanish: llorar
Swedish: gråta
Thai: ร้องไห้
Turkish: ağlamak
Ukrainian: плакати
Vietnamese: khóc
All related terms of 'cry'
cry up
to praise highly ; extol
cry off
If you cry off , you tell someone that you cannot do something that you have agreed or arranged to do.
cry out
If you cry out , you call out loudly because you are frightened , unhappy , or in pain.
war cry
a rallying cry used by combatants in battle
cry down
to belittle ; disparage
cry foul
If you cry foul , you claim that someone, especially an opponent or rival , has acted illegally or unfairly.
cry havoc
to give the signal for pillage and destruction
cry quits
to give up a task , fight, etc
cry wolf
If someone cries wolf , they say that there is a problem when there is not, with the result that people do not believe them when there really is a problem.
a far cry
a long way
battle cry
A battle cry is a phrase that is used to encourage people to support a particular cause or campaign.
cry quarter
to beg for mercy
parrot cry
a remark , complaint , etc that is repeated or imitated mechanically without understanding
street cry
the cry of a street hawker
rallying cry
A rallying cry or rallying call is something such as a word or phrase, an event, or a belief which encourages people to unite and to act in support of a particular group or idea.
cry out for
If you say that something cries out for a particular thing or action , you mean that it needs that thing or action very much.
hue and cry
If people raise a hue and cry about something, they protest angrily about it.
in full cry
When someone is in full cry , they are expressing their views very strongly or are very active .
crybaby
If someone calls a child a crybaby , they mean that the child cries a lot for no good reason .
a far cry from
Something that is a far cry from something else is very different from it.
a hue and cry
a loud protest about something or opposition to it
cry blue murder
to make an outcry
cry for the moon
to desire the unattainable
say uncle
to concede defeat
cry in one's beer
to lament or complain in a maudlin manner
cry one's eyes out
to weep bitterly
cry your eyes out
to cry a lot for a long time
cry your heart out
to cry a great deal
cry over spilt milk
to lament something that cannot be altered
a shoulder to cry on
If someone offers you a shoulder to cry on or is a shoulder to cry on , they listen sympathetically as you talk about your troubles.
cry on someone's shoulder
to tell one's troubles to someone in seeking comfort or sympathy
to cry your eyes out
If you cry your eyes out , you cry very hard .
a far cry from something
very different from something mentioned or experienced earlier
Chinese translation of 'cry'
cry
(kraɪ)
vi
(= weep) 哭 (kū)
vt
(also cry out) 叫喊 (jiàohǎn)
n(c)
(= shriek) (human) 尖叫 (jiānjiào) (声, shēng)
[of bird, animal]大叫 (dàjiào) (声, shēng)
(= shout) 叫喊 (jiàohǎn) (声, shēng)
what are you crying about?你哭什么(麼)？ (nǐ kū shénme?)
to cry for help呼救 (hūjiù)
a cry for help呼救声(聲) (hūjiù shēng)
to have a good cry痛哭一场(場) (tòngkū yī chǎng)
it's a far cry from ... 和 ... 大相径(逕)庭 (hé ... dà xiāng jìng tíng)