complainverb [ I ]
uk/kəmˈpleɪn/us/kəmˈpleɪn/B1 to say that something is wrong or not satisfactory:
Lots of people have complained about the noise.
You're always complaining!
[ + that ] He complained that his boss was useless and he had too much work.
B1 to tell someone formally that something is wrong:
If the service was so bad why didn't you complain to the manager?
More examples
- Over three hundred listeners phoned in to complain about the programme.
- Teachers complain that more of their time is taken up with administration than with teaching.
- They were afraid to complain about the noise in case they annoyed the neighbours.
- She was complaining about all the sex and violence on television.
- After her fall she complained that she couldn't bend her leg properly.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Complaining
- beef
- bewail
- bugger, sod, etc. this for a lark! idiom
- cavil
- chunter
- complainant
- complaint
- groan
- grouse
- harp
- harp on (about sth)
- huff and puff idiom
- kick
- lodge
- make a noise about sth idiom
- protest
- quibble
- squeal
- start on at sb
- whinger
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complainingly
adverb uk/kəmˈpleɪ.nɪŋ.li/us/kəmˈpleɪ.nɪŋ.li/
"You always walk too fast for me," she said complainingly.
Phrasal verb(s)
complain of sth