complain
kuhm-PLAYN
Complain (verb) means to express dissatisfaction, annoyance, or pain about something. Example: “My grandfather complains about his sore knees whenever the weather turns cold.”
verb
1
To express dissatisfaction, annoyance, or pain about something.
"My grandfather complains about his sore knees whenever the weather turns cold."
"Guests complained about the slow service at the restaurant."
"He never complains, even when things go wrong."
2
To make a formal report or accusation, especially to an authority.
"He complained to the council about the broken streetlights outside his house."
"If you see a fault, you can complain to the regulator online."
"She complained to the police about the noisy neighbors."
How to use complain
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo voice unhappiness about something, or to formally report a problem.
Common pairings
complain about
complain to management
constantly complain
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like complain.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Third person singular
- complains
- Past tense
- complained
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
My grandfather _____ about his sore knees whenever the weather turns cold.
Etymology
From Old French complaindre, from Latin plangere, "to beat the breast in grief" — the same root as "plaintive" and "plaint."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for complain
See all rhymes for complain →Frequently asked questions
What does “complain” mean?
The word “complain” means to express dissatisfaction, annoyance, or pain about something. In plain terms, to voice unhappiness about something, or to formally report a problem.
How do you pronounce “complain”?
“Complain” is pronounced kuhm-PLAYN (/kəmˈpleɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “complain” in a sentence?
Here is “complain” used in a sentence: “Guests complained about the slow service at the restaurant.”
What is another word for “complain”?
Words with a similar meaning to “complain” include beef, bellyache, bemoan, bleat, whimper and carp.
What part of speech is “complain”?
“Complain” is a verb.
Where does the word “complain” come from?
The word “complain” comes from Latin. From Old French complaindre, from Latin plangere, "to beat the breast in grief" — the same root as "plaintive" and "plaint.".
Is “complain” a common word?
“Complain” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “complain” have?
“Complain” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to express dissatisfaction, annoyance, or pain about something.
What is the difference between 'complain about' and 'complain of'?
Complain about is the everyday choice for expressing dissatisfaction, as in 'she complained about the noise'. Complain of is more formal and often used for symptoms or ailments, as in 'he complained of chest pains', where it means to report or mention them.
What is the difference between 'complain' and 'complaint'?
Complain is the verb, meaning to express dissatisfaction or make a formal report. Complaint is the noun for what results, so you complain in order to make a complaint.
When should you use 'complain to' rather than 'complain about'?
Use complain to before the person or authority who receives the grievance, and complain about before the thing that is wrong. You might complain to the manager about the service, combining both in one sentence.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include complain:
