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
Synonyms
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
He was put on probation for a year after failing to pay all of a client’s medical bills with settlement money as agreed and lying about it to his client, then offering to settle the rest of the bills as long as the client did not contact the State Bar to complain, a 2008 complaint alleges.
—
Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 17 July 2024
Spaniards have complained for years that, tourists drink excessively, litter, brawl and even run naked through the streets.
—
Monica Pitrelli, CNBC, 16 July 2024
Usha's mother didn't complain about her father behind his back.
—
Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 16 July 2024
Argentina coach Scaloni complained about the condition of the temporary grass field at Mercedes-Benz Stadium after Copa opener, and complaints continued from other coaches and players at other venues throughout the tournament.
—
Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 15 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for complain ![](/dist-cross-dungarees/2024-07-26--16-18-58-h04dq/images/svg/redesign/arrow-right-exemplar.svg)
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'complain.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing complain
Dictionary Entries Near complain
Cite this Entry
“Complain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/complain. Accessed 27 Jul. 2024.
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
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
More from Merriam-Webster on complain
Nglish: Translation of complain for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of complain for Arabic Speakers
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share