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cry out

phrasal verb

Definition of cry 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.

Word by Word Definitions

cry play

  1. : to utter loudly : shout

  2. : beg, beseech

  3. : to proclaim publicly : advertise

  1. : an instance of crying: such as

  2. : an inarticulate utterance of distress, rage, or pain

  3. : outcry, clamor

  1. : cold : freezing

See the full definition of cry
out play

  1. : in a direction away from the inside or center

  2. : outside

  3. : from among others

  1. : eject, oust

  2. : to identify publicly as being such secretly

  3. : to become publicly known

  1. used as a function word to indicate an outward movement

  1. : situated outside : external

  2. : out-of-bounds

  3. : situated at a distance : outlying

  1. : outside

  2. : one who is out of office or power or on the outside

  3. : an act or instance of putting a player out or of being put out in baseball

  1. : in a manner that exceeds or surpasses and sometimes overpowers or defeats

See the full definition of out

Learn More about cry out

  1. Britannica English: Translation of cry out for Arabic speakers

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