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

to cry

11 8.2

To call out loud in public to tell news or sell things

verb
/kraɪ/

Archaic

: pregonar

As the parade passed by, the children cried out in excitement, waving their flags.

Examples

But you may have heard the chapbook singers and peddlers of verse cry their names down the street.

The Body Snatcher (1945)
High on the temple roof, a false prophet cried out for the people to climb up and be delivered.

Fiction book (1998)
My name was cried out on Friday last all over Jerusalem.
You'll go on street corners and cry.

The Odd Couple (1968)
But as I came to each one, the writer cried out, "That's mine, I wrote it!"

Fiction book (1996)
Onlookers cried out in support and many of them rushed in to join the fight.
"Is it possible that you cannot imagine anything more just and consoling than that?!" the host cried out in sympathy.

Fiction book (1991)
In the crowded market, the peddler cried out, "Fresh fruits and vegetables for sale!"
On the corner of the street, the activist cried for justice, urging the crowd to join the march.

Synonyms

to call

vsto cry

∞ 1.0

To make a loud sound to get attention

is aimed at making a public proclamation in a busy public place

to yell

vsto cry

∞ 1.0

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

focuses on making an intentional public proclamation instead of venting emotion

to call out

vsto cry

152 3.5

To say something loudly so people can hear

is specifically a public market or street announcement rather than any loud speech

to cry out

vsto cry

108 1.8

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

is a purposeful public announcement rather than an emotional reaction

to bawl

vsto cry

39 5.9

Cry or shout loudly and without control

is a controlled public calling to inform people rather than an uncontrolled shout

to shout out

vsto cry

13 4.2

Say something loudly to show strong feeling or get attention

is a deliberate public announcement rather than a sudden emotional shout

to blare out

vsto cry

1 4.3

Make a very loud sound to get people's attention

is a spoken street announcement rather than a forceful broadcast

to blazon out

vsto cry

9.3

To tell many people about something in a showy way

is a general public announcement by calling out in streets or markets

to megaphone

vsto cry

4.9

To speak loudly so many people can hear, often using a cone-shaped tube

is done by calling out in public voice rather than using devices

to hallo

vsto cry

4.9

To call out loudly to get someone's attention from a distance

targets making a public market announcement rather than distant personal attention

to baw

vsto cry

Archaic

9.8

To shout loudly to get someone's attention from far away

is used to make formal public announcements, not just to be heard far away

Antonyms

to whisper

586 1.0

To speak very quietly using only breath so one person can hear

to mumble

103 4.9

To speak in a low, unclear voice that is hard to understand

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 Loud

to shout

644 1.0

to call out

152 3.5

to cry

Archaic

11 8.2

to say

∞ 1.0

to whisper

586 1.0

Surface Forms

cry infinitive

cried past

cried past participle

crying present participle

cries third person singular

Etymology

Cry was once used for people who called news in the street, like a 'town crier', so it means to make a public announcement by calling out. So to cry something in old towns was to announce it loudly so everyone could hear.