😭 To shed tears 😭 A session of weeping 🗣️ To shout out ⚠️ To demand action 🦅 A loud sound 📢 A rallying call 📣 To announce publicly

to cry

230 5.6

To need quick attention because something is wrong

verb
/kraɪ/

: clamar por

His withdrawal tempted her to cry out; his return brought the cry to her lips.
cry out for attention

Examples

I'm crying out for more

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004)
What the hell could be more important than your kid crying?

Jersey Girl (2004)
Increasingly, the murmurs of a voice crying for change could be heard.

Academic text (1992)
Scientists have been crying in the wilderness for decades, seemingly to no avail.

Academic text (2000)
Carrying empty water pots on their heads, they cry out for their thirst to be quenched.

Academic text (1990)
I've discovered a regional beauty and uniqueness crying out to be seen and photographed.

Academic text (1993)
The situation is crying out for immediate solutions to address the crisis we face.
The alarming rise in pollution is crying out for urgent action from local authorities.
The community's needs are crying out for attention from government officials.

Synonyms

to cry out for

vsto cry

26 4.1

To urgently need something

demands immediate attention or action rather than just needing something

to cry for

vsto cry

3 4.1

To need something urgently

demands immediate attention or action instead of only needing support

Antonyms

to ignore

∞ 1.0

Choose not to pay attention to someone or something

to neglect

256 3.8

Fail to care for someone or something you should look after

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

shoulder to cry on

Informal

15 3.2

A person who gives comfort and listens when you feel sad

to cry wolf

12 5.8

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

about to cry

8 3.0

Close to crying because you feel sad

to cry one's eyes out

Informal

7 4.2

Cry for a long time because you feel very sad

to cry over spilt milk

4 4.3

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

to make baby Jesus cry

Informal

1 9.9

Cause great sadness or disappointment, often as a joke

to cry all the way to the bank

Informal

8.6

To make a lot of money while pretending to complain

to cry in one's beer

Informal

9.6

To feel sorry for yourself and complain to get sympathy

to cry like a pissbaby

Offensive

9.9

To cry in a very childish way when upset

cry than wool

9.9

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

don't cry for me, Argentina

9.9

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

Phrasal Verbs

to cry out

108 1.8

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

to cry out for

26 4.1

To urgently need something

to cry foul

11 5.6

Complain loudly in public that a decision is unfair

to cry out for help

7 2.7

To shout loudly when you need help right away

to cry for

3 4.1

To need something urgently

to cry down

1 7.1

To speak badly about someone or something in public

Compounds

rallying cry

12 5.6

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

battle cry

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

war cry

2 4.3

A loud shout to encourage or rally people before a battle

far cry

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

cry-baby tree

9.9

A small spiny tree from South America with deep red flowers

party cry

7.0

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

How Urgent

to cry

230 5.6

to demand

943 2.7

to need

∞ 1.0

to call for

369 3.3

to suggest

∞ 1.6

Surface Forms

cry infinitive

crying present participle

cries third person singular

cried past

cried past participle

Etymology

Cry in phrases like 'cries out for' keeps the idea of 'calling loudly', meaning something seems to shout for attention. So when a problem cries out for action, it clearly needs help or change right away.