cry out

phrasal verb

cried out; crying out; cries out

1

: to make a loud sound because of pain, fear, surprise, etc.

She cried out in pain.

2

: to speak in a loud voice : to say something loudly or from a distance

We could hear them on the shore crying out to us, so we waved.

She cried out for help.

3

—used to say that something clearly needs or should have a particular thing, person, use, etc.

—often + to be

A chair like this cries out to be used, not kept in some museum.

The meal cried out to be eaten with a nice white wine.

—often + for

The meal cried out for a nice white wine.

The job cries out for someone who's not afraid to take chances.

Examples of cry out in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Roasted chicken or pork loin cry out for a bold white and oysters are at their best when enjoyed in a month with the letter R, making January, February, and March prime oyster months so keep a few bottles chilled in the refrigerator (or snow drift) for just this occasion. —Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 2 Jan. 2026

Don’t just let the toddler cry out and not do anything. —Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 31 Dec. 2025

But although our earthly bodies may be broken and hurting and exhausted and want that break, our hearts and souls are still crying out to God, 'Use me, dear God! —Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Dec. 2025

Everyone’s been crying out for the likes of Harley-Davidson, Indian, and Triumph to release more accessible, entry-level retro classics in the West, but much of it has been in vain. —New Atlas, 13 Dec. 2025

Rhymes for cry out

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout