complain

verb

com·​plain kəm-ˈplān 

complained; complaining; complains

intransitive verb

1

: to express grief, pain, or discontent

complaining about the weather

2

: to make a formal accusation or charge

He threatened to complain of him to the captain.

complainer noun

complainingly

kəm-ˈplā-niŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms of complain

• scream
• whine
• moan
• grumble
• mutter
• worry

Examples of complain in a Sentence

He works hard but he never complains.

If you're unhappy with the service, you should complain to the manager.

The students complained that the test was too hard.

“These shoes are too tight,” he complained.

Recent Examples on the Web

Kayley starts service with a positive attitude, hoping to give the guests no reason to complain. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 18 Aug. 2026

That Sean Payton won by 20 on the road and still spent a good chunk of his postgame presser either complaining, yammering about Jack Lemmon, or both, is a heck of a good sign. — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 17 Aug. 2026

While figuring out the legal bureaucracies surrounding Sam’s money, the working-class siblings complain about their physical proximity to their broke friends. — Paula Mejía, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026

One neighborhood resident complained during a community-board meeting (from, apparently, under her bedcovers) about having to deal with the sound of the kids shouting at recess. — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 17 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English compleynen, from Anglo-French compleindre, from Vulgar Latin *complangere, from Latin com- + plangere to lament — more at plaint

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing complain

• can't complain

Rhymes for complain

• abstain
• airplane
• alkane
• arcane
• arraign
• attain
• backplane
• betaine
• biplane
• blockchain
• butane
• campaign

Kids Definition

complain

verb

com·​plain kəm-ˈplān 

1

: to express grief, pain, or discontent : find fault

complaining about the weather

2

: to accuse someone of wrongdoing

complainer noun

complainingly

-ˈplā-niŋ-lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

complain

intransitive verb

com·​plain kəm-ˈplān 

: to speak of one's illness or symptoms

the patient visited the office complaining of weight loss

Legal Definition

complain

intransitive verb

com·​plain

: to make a complaint