WordGarden.iocry
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /krˈaɪ/
US
- /ˈkraɪ/
Meanings
Verb
to shed tears or sob from emotion or pain
to call out or shout loudly
to make a characteristic animal or bird call
Noun
an act or sound of weeping
a loud shout, call, or vocal sound
a public appeal, demand, or slogan
Beyond the definition
Crying isn't just about tears rolling down your face—it's a deeply human way of showing a whole range of feelings. You might cry from sadness when saying goodbye to a loved one, or from joy at a wedding. Sometimes you even "cry" with laughter!
The act of crying can be quiet and private, a single tear tracing a path down your cheek. Or it can be loud and hard to hold back, a big sob that shakes your shoulders. People also "cry out" in pain or fear—this is more about using your voice to show distress than about tears. Think of the hero in an old movie crying out as they fall from a cliff!
The word "cry" encompasses far more than just shedding tears. At its most basic, it means to weep—to express sorrow or pain with tears flowing from your eyes. "She cried when she heard the news." But crying isn't always about sadness. You can cry with joy, relief, or even frustration. "He cried with laughter at the funny movie."
"Cry" also functions as a verb meaning to shout or yell, often in distress. A baby might "cry for its mother," and someone facing danger might "cry out" for help. This usage stems from the idea of expressing strong emotion vocally.
As a noun, a "cry" is a shout or call: "a cry of pain," "a cry for help," or even a "battle cry." In this sense, it's the sound itself, not the tears.
Figuratively, "cry" can mean to protest strongly against something. You might "cry foul" if you believe someone has cheated or acted unfairly. Or you could "cry wolf," meaning to give a false alarm repeatedly until no one believes you anymore—a cautionary tale about honesty!
Historically, "cry" also referred to proclaiming something publicly—think of town criers announcing news in the old days. While this usage is less common now, it highlights how crying has always been linked to making emotions and information known.
So whether it's tears of sorrow, shouts for help, or a protest against injustice, "cry" represents a powerful and versatile way humans express their inner world.
Examples
- 1
Child distress
The baby started to cry as soon as his mother left the room.
- 2
Emotional reaction
She cried when she read the letter.
- 3
Movies
That movie always makes me cry.
- 4
Lingering sadness
He was still crying over the argument the next morning.
- Patterncry over + sad event
feel sad about it for some time
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Regret idiom
There's no point crying over spilled milk.
- Phrasecry over spilled milk
stay upset about something that cannot be changed
- 6
Pain reaction
She cried out in pain when she twisted her ankle.
- Phrasecry out
shout suddenly because of pain, fear, or surprise
- 7
Emergency help
One of the swimmers cried for help when the boat drifted away.
- Phrasecry for help
call loudly because you need help
- 8
Urgent need
The school system is crying out for better funding.
- Patterncry out for + need
need it very much
- 9
Support signal
His last text message was clearly a cry for help.
- Phrasea cry for help
a sign that someone needs support
- 10
Collective action
Her speech became a rallying cry for change.
- Phrasea rallying cry
words that bring people together to act
- 11
Strong contrast
Life in the village was a far cry from what she was used to in Chicago.
- Phrasea far cry from
very different from
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- crynounverb
Forms
- crying-ing formverbnoun
- criedpast tenseverbnoun
- criespluralnounverb