cry

¹cry

verb \ˈkrī\

criedcry·ing

Definition of CRY

transitive verb

1

: to utter loudly : shout

2

archaic : beg, beseech

3

: to proclaim publicly : advertise <cry their wares>

intransitive verb

1

: to call loudly : shout

2

: to shed tears often noisily : weep, sob

3

: to utter a characteristic sound or call

4

: to require or suggest strongly a remedy or disposition <a hundred things which cry out for planning — Roger Burlingame>

— cry havoc

: to sound an alarm

— cry over spilled milk

: to express vain regrets for what cannot be recovered or undone

— cry wolf

: to give alarm unnecessarily

Examples of CRY

1. The baby is crying. Is she okay?
2. Some people cry more easily than others.
3. He cried silently while the song played.
4. She cried all the way home from school that day.
5. She couldn't imagine why anyone would cry over a stupid movie.
6. She was crying with relief.
7. They cried tears of joy.
8. “Help,” he cried, “Get a doctor! Quick!”
9. I heard someone cry “Wait!” but the train pulled away anyway.
10. She'd never heard the sound of sea gulls crying by the shore.

Origin of CRY

Middle English crien, from Anglo-French crier, from Latin quiritare to make a public outcry, perhaps from Quirit-, Quiris, Roman citizen

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to CRY

Synonyms: bawl, blub [chiefly British], blubber, sob, weep

Related Words: greet [Scottish], grieve, keen, lament, mourn; howl, scream, squall, wail, yowl; bleat, mewl, pule, whimper, whine; sniffle, snivel; groan, moan, sigh

Near Antonyms: breathe, mumble, murmur, mutter, whisper

see all synonyms and antonyms

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