cry out

verb

cried out; crying out; cries out

1

: to make a loud sound because of pain, fear, surprise, etc.

She cried out in pain.

2

: to speak in a loud voice : to say something loudly or from a distance

We could hear them on the shore crying out to us, so we waved.

She cried out for help.

3

—used to say that something clearly needs or should have a particular thing, person, use, etc.

—often + to be

A chair like this cries out to be used, not kept in some museum.

The meal cried out to be eaten with a nice white wine.

—often + for

The meal cried out for a nice white wine.

The job cries out for someone who's not afraid to take chances.

Examples of cry out in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Skeletor, meanwhile, was joyously evil, the sort of scenery-chewing villain who's crying out for a moustache to twirl. —Richard Edwards, Space.com, 1 June 2026

Ribs practically cry out for a hoppy IPA, though a Belgian-style Tripel or Dubbel pairs well, too. —Jay R. Brooks, Mercury News, 1 June 2026

This gross misuse of taxpayer money cries out for a call to action. —Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 May 2026

Bells are then honored as vital sentinels during floods, crying out that the barricades have given way. —Literary Hub, 20 May 2026

Rhymes for cry out

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout