Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

a far cry from

idiom

Definition of a far cry from

: very different from (something or someone)
  • The movie is a far cry from the book.
  • He's a far cry from the idealistic young writer he once was.

Word by Word Definitions

far play

  1. : at or to a considerable distance in space

  2. : to a great extent : much

  3. : by a broad interval : widely

  1. : remote in space

  2. : distinctly different in quality or relationship

  3. : remote in time

See the full definition of far
cry play

  1. : to utter loudly : shout

  2. : beg, beseech

  3. : to proclaim publicly : advertise

  1. : an instance of crying: such as

  2. : an inarticulate utterance of distress, rage, or pain

  3. : outcry, clamor

  1. : cold : freezing

See the full definition of cry

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up a far cry from? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games