cry

noun countable

UK /kraɪ/

Word Forms

singular	cry
plural	cries

1
Sound Effect ♬♬♬♬♬♬a loud expression of emotion, especially pain, fear, or happiness
cry of:
a cry of pain/anguish
give/utter a cry:
The horses gave a cry of alarm.
Synonyms and related words
Expressing pain
cry
cry out
eina
2
something that someone shouts
There was a cry of ‘Fire!’, and everyone started to panic.
Synonyms and related words
Shouts and shouting
shout
call
cheer
3
the noise that an animal or bird makes
the cry of a wolf
Synonyms and related words
Bird sounds
birdsong
chatter
chirp
Synonyms and related words
Sounds made by animals
bark
bellow
bleat
4
singular a period of time when you have tears coming from your eyes, especially because you are sad
have a (good) cry:
She went to the toilet and had a good cry.
Synonyms and related words
Relating to crying and tears
tear
cry
tearful
5
an urgent request for something
a cry for help:
Was cutting her wrists a cry for help, or was it a real attempt to kill herself?
Synonyms and related words
Requests and demands
demand
request
appeal
6
an emotional reaction from the public
cry of:
A cry of outrage greeted the publication of his book.
In response to cries of protest, two ministers resigned.
Synonyms and related words
Reactions and ways of responding
reaction
response
reply

phrases

be a far cry from

in full cry

cry

noun countable

US /kraɪ/

Word Forms

singular	cry
plural	cries

1
Sound Effect ♬♬♬♬♬♬a loud expression of emotion, especially pain, fear, or happiness
cry of:
a cry of pain/anguish
give/utter a cry:
The horses gave a cry of alarm.
Synonyms and related words
Expressing pain
cry
cry out
eina
2
something that someone shouts
There was a cry of “Fire!”, and everyone started to panic.
Synonyms and related words
Shouts and shouting
shout
call
cheer
3
the noise that an animal or bird makes
the cry of a wolf
Synonyms and related words
Bird sounds
birdsong
chatter
chirp
Synonyms and related words
Sounds made by animals
bark
bellow
bleat
4
singular a period of time when you have tears coming from your eyes, especially because you are sad
have a (good) cry:
She went to the toilet and had a good cry.
Synonyms and related words
Relating to crying and tears
tear
teardrop
cry
5
an urgent request for something
a cry for help:
Was cutting her wrists a cry for help, or was it a real attempt to kill herself?
Synonyms and related words
Requests and demands
demand
request
appeal
6
an emotional reaction from the public
cry of:
A cry of outrage greeted the publication of his book.
In response to cries of protest, two ministers resigned.
Synonyms and related words
Reactions and ways of responding
reaction
response
reply

phrases

be a far cry from

in full cry

cry

verb

UK /kraɪ/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	cry
he/she/it	cries
present participle	crying
past tense	cried
past participle	cried

1
intransitive/transitive Sound Effect ♬♬♬♬♬♬to have tears coming from your eyes, especially because you are sad
I’m sorry – please don’t cry.
cry for:
She could hear her brother crying for his mother.
cry with pain/happiness/relief/rage etc:
Now she felt like crying with rage at her own stupidity.
cry over/about:
Laura was angry with herself for wasting time crying over him.
cry tears of rage/frustration/pain etc:
He cried tears of frustration at his inability to help.
cry yourself to sleep (=cry continuously until you sleep):
I cried myself to sleep at night for weeks after we broke up.
Synonyms and related words
To cry, or to start crying
cry
burst out
dissolve into
1. 1a
  if a baby cries, it makes a loud noise because it is hungry or uncomfortable
  Synonyms and related words
  To cry, or to start crying
  cry
  burst out
  dissolve into
2
intransitive/transitive to shout something
‘That’s not what I meant,’ Polly cried.
cry (something) in surprise/alarm/horror/delight etc:
‘No!’ he cried in horror.
cry for help:
Ted could hear a woman’s voice crying for help.
cry someone’s name:
She sometimes cries his name in her sleep.
Synonyms and related words
To shout and to talk loudly
shout
call out
cry
3
intransitive if an animal or bird cries, it makes a loud noise
Synonyms and related words
Bird behaviour
alight
beat
be on the wing

phrases

cry your eyes/heart out

cry foul

cry on someone’s shoulder

cry over spilt milk

for crying out loud

phrasal verbs

cry off

cry out

cry out for

cry

verb

US /kraɪ/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	cry
he/she/it	cries
present participle	crying
past tense	cried
past participle	cried

1
intransitive/transitive Sound Effect ♬♬♬♬♬♬to have tears coming from your eyes, especially because you are sad
I’m sorry – please don’t cry.
cry for:
She could hear her brother crying for his mother.
cry with pain/happiness/relief/rage etc.:
Now she felt like crying with rage at her own stupidity.
cry over/about:
Laura was angry with herself for wasting time crying over him.
cry tears of rage/frustration/pain etc.:
He cried tears of frustration at his inability to help.
cry yourself to sleep (=cry continuously until you sleep):
I cried myself to sleep at night for weeks after we broke up.
Synonyms and related words
To cry, or to start crying
cry
burst out
dissolve into
1. 1a
  if a baby cries, it makes a loud noise because it is hungry or uncomfortable
  Synonyms and related words
  To cry, or to start crying
  cry
  burst out
  dissolve into
2
intransitive/transitive to shout something
“That’s not what I meant,” Polly cried.
cry for help:
Ted could hear a woman’s voice crying for help.
cry someone’s name:
She sometimes cries his name in her sleep.
cry (something) in surprise/alarm/horror/delight etc.:
“No!” he cried in horror.
Synonyms and related words
To shout and to talk loudly
shout
call out
cry
3
intransitive if an animal or bird cries, it makes a loud noise
Synonyms and related words
Bird behavior
alight
beat
be on the wing

phrases

cry your eyes/heart out

cry foul

cry on someone’s shoulder

cry over spilled milk

for crying out loud

phrasal verbs

cry off

cry out

cry out for

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cry

cry

cry

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