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

²cry

noun

plural cries

Definition of CRY

1

: an instance of crying: as

a : an inarticulate utterance of distress, rage, or pain

b obsolete : outcry, clamor

2

a obsolete : proclamation

b plural Scottish : banns

3

: entreaty, appeal <a cry for help>

4

: a loud shout

5

: watchword, slogan

6

a : common report

b : a general opinion

7

: the public voice raised in protest or approval

8

: a fit of weeping

9

: the characteristic sound or call of an animal

10

a : a pack of hounds

b (1) : pursuit —used in the phrase in full cry <hounds in full cry> (2) : a peak of activity or excitement —used in the phrase in full cry <a campaign in full cry>

Examples of CRY

1. The baby's cry woke me out of a deep sleep.
2. There was a cry of “Fire” and we all rushed for the exits.
3. The children were playing a game and their happy cries echoed through the house.
4. the wild cry of a coyote

First Known Use of CRY

13th century

Related to CRY

Synonyms

shout, holler, hoot, howl, whoop, yell, yowl

Related Words

ejaculation, interjection; scream, screech, shriek, shrill, squall, squeak, squeal, yelp; bawl, bellow, clamor, outcry, roar; caterwaul, plaint, wail

Near Antonyms

mumble, murmur, mutter; gasp, whimper, whisper