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to cry

to cry

342 1.0
To make a loud call to show feeling or get attention
  • verb
  • /kraɪ/
translation icon : gritar
  • When the dog saw its owner after a long time, it started to cry with joy.
  • cry foul
  • cried 'Oh!'
  • crying voices

And every time he would say this, I would cry louder, right?

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Examples

  • When I see someone start to cry, I can tell why they're crying.

  • The child began to cry when he scraped his knee on the sidewalk.

  • The last movie that made me cry was past lives.

  • And you go, you want to cry, you really want to try.

  • Are you waiting for me to cry?

  • And every time he would say this, I would cry louder, right?

  • All right, Tell me the last time that you cried at a restaurant.

  • They stand before you and cry and plead and beg and all that.

  • Mama hadn't always been this way, lounging around the apartment crying and listening to records.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • "You're leaving me," Jennifer cried when Manny told her that he should go to India.

    Fiction book (1990)

Synonyms

to call
vsto cry
1.0

To make a loud sound to get attention

is broader, also used to express strong feeling rather than only signal
to scream
vsto cry
1.0

To make a loud high cry because of fear or pain

is broader, including loud sounds that are not necessarily high-pitched
to yell
vsto cry
1.0

To shout loudly because you feel strong pain, anger or excitement

is more neutral, covering loud sounds for communication or emotion
to shout
vsto cry
644 1.0

To speak very loudly to get attention or show strong feeling

is more general and includes any loud vocal expression, not only to be heard
to weep
vsto cry
208 1.1

To cry and let tears fall because you feel sad or have strong feelings

is louder and often used to signal or express emotions vocally
to moan
vsto cry
177 1.0

To make a low, long sound to show pain, discomfort, or displeasure

is usually louder and more for communication or emotional display
to call out
vsto cry
152 3.5

To say something loudly so people can hear

is wider, used for any loud vocal act beyond announcements
to holler
vsto cry
  • Informal
119 6.6

To shout loudly to get attention or show strong feeling

is the general loud vocal action, not specifically outside or distant
to cry out
vsto cry
108 1.8

Shout loudly to show a strong feeling, for example when surprised or hurt

is used more generally, not only as a sudden reaction
to screech
vsto cry
86 4.0

To make a loud, high, sharp sound that startles people

is more general and covers non-piercing loud sounds too
to exclaim
vsto cry
81 3.4

Say something suddenly and loudly because you feel surprised or excited

is broader, including any loud vocal act not only sudden speech
to shriek
vsto cry
72 2.9

To make a loud high sound often because of fear, pain or excitement

is broader, used for loud sounds without extreme high pitch
to whimper
vsto cry
69 3.3

To make a low, soft cry because of pain or fear

is a stronger loud vocal act rather than soft timid sounds
to howl
vsto cry
48 2.6

To give a long loud cry because of pain, grief, or anger

is wider, used for many loud vocal acts not only long wails
to bawl
vsto cry
39 5.9

Cry or shout loudly and without control

is broader, including controlled loud calls and single shouts
24 2.4

To suddenly cry because of a strong feeling

is broader and includes vocal calls not only sudden tearful starts
to sob
vsto cry
15 1.0

To cry with short, noisy breaths

is more general, not limited to breathy broken sound patterns
to blubber
vsto cry
  • Informal
14 6.1

To cry loudly and without control, often while talking

is broader, including controlled loud calls and single sudden sounds
to shed a tear
vsto cry
14 3.5

Cry a little, often with one tear

is stronger and often involves loud vocal expression or calls
to shout out
vsto cry
13 4.2

Say something loudly to show strong feeling or get attention

is the general form used for many loud vocal acts
7 2.7

To shout loudly when you need help right away

is more general, used for emotion or communication beyond asking for aid
to cry one's eyes out
vsto cry
  • Informal
7 4.2

Cry for a long time because you feel very sad

is broader, including short loud calls as well as long grief sounds
to bawl one's eyes out
vsto cry
  • Informal
3 7.6

Cry very loudly and for a long time

is more general and can be brief rather than prolonged heavy sounds
to squall
vsto cry
2 7.2

To make a loud high sound like a baby or bird

is more general, covering all loud vocal sounds, not only high-pitched ones
to yowl
vsto cry
2 6.3

To make a loud, long cry that sounds like it hurts

is broader, also used for non-mournful loud vocal expressions
to mewl
vsto cry
2 9.9

To cry in a small, weak voice like a kitten or baby

is louder and more intended to express or communicate strong feeling
1 2.1

To make a loud sudden cry because you are scared, hurt, or surprised

is a general loud vocal sound used for various emotions or communication
to ululate
vsto cry
1 9.9

To make long loud shaky cries to show strong feeling

is more general, covering many loud expressive sounds not only wavering ones
to hollo
vsto cry
  • Archaic
9.9

To call out loudly to get attention or greet someone

is broader, applies to many loud vocal uses not only greetings
to baw
vsto cry
  • UK
9.9

To cry loudly because you feel upset or hurt

is broader, covering many loud vocal types beyond distress sounds
to yipe
vsto cry
  • Informal
9.5

To make a short sharp cry from surprise, fear, or excitement

is broader and can be longer or less sudden than that short exclamation

Idioms

far cry from
  • Informal
27 4.9

Very different from what you expect, often in a disappointing way

far cry
  • Informal
22 6.3

A thing or situation that is very different from another

15 3.2

A person who gives comfort and listens when you feel sad

12 5.8

To say there is danger when there is none so people stop believing you

8 3.0

Close to crying because you feel sad

7 4.2

Cry for a long time because you feel very sad

To waste time being upset about something that already happened and cannot be changed

to cry the blues
  • Informal
1 7.5

To feel sad and complain to others

to cry uncle
  • Informal
1 8.8

To admit you give up when someone pressures you

to cry a river
  • Informal
1 8.7

Complain a lot in a dramatic way about something that upsets you

cry me a river
  • Informal
1 9.6

Tell someone you do not feel sorry for their complaints

1 9.9

Cause great sadness or disappointment, often as a joke

To make a lot of money while pretending to complain

9.6

To feel sorry for yourself and complain to get sympathy

9.9

To cry in a very childish way when upset

A situation that makes a lot of noise but has little real effect

A dramatic way to tell people not to be sad when you leave, from the musical Evita

Phrasal Verbs

108 1.8

Shout loudly to show a strong feeling, for example when surprised or hurt

To urgently need something

11 5.6

Complain loudly in public that a decision is unfair

To shout loudly when you need help right away

3 4.1

To need something urgently

1 7.1

To speak badly about someone or something in public

Compounds

12 5.6

A short word or phrase that encourages people to unite and act for a cause

8 3.9

A loud shout or short phrase that encourages people to act together

hue and cry
  • Informal
4 7.7

A loud public complaint by many people asking for action

2 4.3

A loud shout to encourage or rally people before a battle

1 6.3

A long distance from a town or city

kiss and cry
  • Jargon
1 9.4

An area at competitions like figure skating where athletes and coaches wait for scores and show emotion

cry cupboard
  • Literature
9.9

A private place where you go to be alone and let out your feelings

A small spiny tree from South America with deep red flowers

7.0

A short chant people shout together at a celebration to show support

How Loud

to bellow
39 4.7
to scream
1.0
to yell
1.0
to shout
644 1.0
to cry
342 1.0
to peep
2 1.5

Surface Forms

cry infinitive
crying present participle
cries third person singular
cried past
cried past participle

Etymology

Cry as a verb kept the meaning 'to call out' and is used for making a loud sound to communicate or show feeling. So to cry can mean to shout or call, as a rooster, a baby, or an injured animal does.