cry

1 of 2

verb

ˈkrī 

cried; crying

transitive verb

1

: to utter loudly : shout

He cried "Wait!" but it was too late.

2

archaic : beg, beseech

3

: to proclaim publicly : advertise

cry their wares

intransitive verb

1

: to call loudly : shout

She cried out for help.

2

: to shed tears often noisily : weep, sob

The child began to cry after she dropped her ice-cream cone.

3

: to utter a characteristic sound or call

heard the seagulls crying

4

: to require or suggest strongly a remedy or disposition (see disposition sense 2b)

… there are a hundred things which cry out for planning …

—Roger Burlingame

cry

2 of 2

noun

plural cries

1

: an instance of crying: such as

a

: an inarticulate utterance of distress, rage, or pain

b

obsolete : outcry, clamor

2

a

obsolete : proclamation

b

cries plural, Scotland : banns

3

: entreaty, appeal

a cry for help

4

: a loud shout

5

: watchword, slogan

6

a

: common report

b

: a general opinion

7

: the public voice raised in protest or approval

8

: a fit of weeping

9

: the characteristic sound or call of an animal

10

a

: a pack of hounds

b(1)

: pursuit

—used in the phrase in full cry

hounds in full cry

(2)

: a peak of activity or excitement

—used in the phrase in full cry

a campaign in full cry

Phrases

cry havoc

: to sound an alarm

cry over spilled milk

: to express vain regrets for what cannot be recovered or undone

You made a mistake, but there's no use crying over spilled milk.

cry wolf

: to give alarm unnecessarily

News organizations have been warned not to cry wolf.

Synonyms

Verb

• bawl
• blub [chiefly British]
• blubber
• sob
• weep

Noun

• holler
• hoot
• howl
• shout
• whoop
• yell
• yowl

Examples of cry in a Sentence

Verb

The baby is crying. Is she okay?

Some people cry more easily than others.

He cried silently while the song played.

She cried all the way home from school that day.

She couldn't imagine why anyone would cry over a stupid movie.

She was crying with relief.

They cried tears of joy.

“Help,” he cried, “Get a doctor! Quick!”

I heard someone cry “Wait!” but the train pulled away anyway.

She'd never heard the sound of sea gulls crying by the shore.

Noun

The baby's cry woke me out of a deep sleep.

There was a cry of “Fire” and we all rushed for the exits.

The children were playing a game and their happy cries echoed through the house.

the wild cry of a coyote

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

With screaming, crying, and crash outs abound, Madix’s high pony mirrored her demeanor: commanding, polished, and captivating. —Devon Abelman, Allure, 23 June 2025

When the curtain is lifted, Matthew is crying, and Andreas is beaming. —Han Ong, New Yorker, 22 June 2025

Noun

Whatever happened to the political left’s cry that no one is above the law? —Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 24 June 2025

Police responded at about 9:30 p.m. June 5 to the cries of the woman near the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and 6th Street, the police statement said. —Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English crien, from Anglo-French crier, from Latin quiritare to make a public outcry, perhaps from Quirit-, Quiris, Roman citizen

Noun

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French cri, derivative of crier "to cry entry 1"

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing cry

• a far cry from
• a shoulder to cry on
• battle cry
• counter-cry
• cry-bully
• cry down
• cry for
• cry for the moon
• cry foul
• cry off
• cry out
• cry out against (something)
• cry up
• far cry
• hue and cry
• in full cry
• kiss and cry
• not know whether to laugh or cry
• rallying cry
• war cry

Rhymes for cry

• ai
• aye
• bae
• bi
• buy
• by
• bye
• chai
• chi
• die
• dry
• dye

Kids Definition

cry

1 of 2 verb

ˈkrī 

cried; crying

1

: to call loudly : shout

2

: to shed tears often noisily : weep, bawl

3

: to utter a special sound or call

4

: to make known to the public

5

: to suggest strongly a need

the situation cries out for action

cry

2 of 2 noun

plural cries

1

: a loud call or shout (as of pain, fear, or joy)

2

: appeal entry 1 sense 2, plea

hear my cry

3

: a fit of weeping

had a good cry

4

: the special sound of an animal (as a bird)

5

: slogan sense 2

6

a

: a pack of hounds

b

: pursuit

—used in the phrase in full cry

hounds in full cry

c

: a peak of activity or excitement

—used in the phrase in full cry

a campaign in full cry