complained; complaining; complains
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
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
Many have moved out, while some residents have complained that they haven't been compensated for hotel stays.
—
Michele Gile, CBS News, 19 Dec. 2025
Some kids complain about headaches or tired eyes, especially after studying or engaging in screen time activities.
—Matthew Kayser, Ascend Agency, 19 Dec. 2025
Folks across the state, and particularly in Charlotte, had begun to complain about not being able to find their favorite Neese’s Country Sausage-made livermush and liver pudding.
—Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 18 Dec. 2025
Our book—Anna was the translator—includes me as one of the characters; there’s even a passage where my mother complains about me as a teenager.
—Literary Hub, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for complain
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Michele Gile, CBS News, 19 Dec. 2025
Some kids complain about headaches or tired eyes, especially after studying or engaging in screen time activities.
—Matthew Kayser, Ascend Agency, 19 Dec. 2025
Folks across the state, and particularly in Charlotte, had begun to complain about not being able to find their favorite Neese’s Country Sausage-made livermush and liver pudding.
—Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 18 Dec. 2025
Our book—Anna was the translator—includes me as one of the characters; there’s even a passage where my mother complains about me as a teenager.
—Literary Hub, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for complain
Cite this Entry
“Complain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/complain. Accessed 20 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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
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