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

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

Colin cried out in surprise and pain. —Stephen King, The Atlantic, 15 May 2026

In her grief, Claire drapes her body over her beloved’s and just cries out in pain. —Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 15 May 2026

Our June/July captures this season beautifully, with dishes meant for not savoring every basket of okra, cucumbers, and peppers, plus barbecue and hamburgers that are crying out for a turn on your grill. —Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 10 May 2026

Rhymes for cry out

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