cry
kreye
Cry (verb) means to shed tears, usually from sadness, pain, or strong emotion. Example: “She started to cry when she heard the news.”
verb
1
To shed tears, usually from sadness, pain, or strong emotion.
"She started to cry when she heard the news."
"The baby cried all through the night."
"Onions always make me cry when I chop them."
2
To shout or call out loudly.
""Help!" he cried, waving his arms."
"The vendors cry out their prices across the crowded market."
noun
1
An act of shedding tears.
"She had a good cry after the breakup and felt better afterward."
"After the sad film, we both had a quiet cry on the sofa."
"He gave a little cry and wiped his eyes."
2
A loud shout or call.
"A cry went up from the crowd as the goal was scored."
"We heard a cry for help from the other side of the lake."
"The hunter's cry echoed across the empty valley."
How to use cry
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo weep, or to shout something out loudly.
Common pairings
cry for help
cry out loud
have a cry
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Word forms
- Plural
- cries
- Third person singular
- cries
- Past tense
- cried, cryed, crode
- Archaic forms
- criest, criedst, cryest, cryedst, crieth, cryeth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She started to _____ when she heard the news.
Etymology
From Old French crier, tracing back to Latin quiritare ("to shout"). The sense of shedding tears developed in English from the 13th century onward, gradually replacing the older word "weep".
Class of 1200
cry joined the language around 1200.
See the full Class of 1200 →
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “cry” mean?
The word “cry” means to shed tears, usually from sadness, pain, or strong emotion. In plain terms, to weep, or to shout something out loudly.
How do you pronounce “cry”?
“Cry” is pronounced kreye (/kɹaɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “cry” in a sentence?
Here is “cry” used in a sentence: “She started to cry when she heard the news.”
What is another word for “cry”?
Words with a similar meaning to “cry” include bawl, blubber, sob, wail, weep and whimper.
What is the opposite of “cry”?
The opposite of “cry” — its antonyms — is laugh.
What part of speech is “cry”?
Depending on how it is used, “cry” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “cry” come from?
The word “cry” dates back to around 1200 and comes from Latin. From Old French crier, tracing back to Latin quiritare ("to shout"). The sense of shedding tears developed in English from the 13th century onward, gradually replacing the older word "weep".
Is “cry” a common word?
“Cry” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between cry and weep?
Both mean to shed tears, but 'weep' is more formal and literary and suggests quiet, sorrowful crying. 'Cry' is the everyday word and covers everything from gentle tears to loud sobbing. Cry can also mean to shout out, whereas weep almost always refers to tears alone.
What is the difference between crying and sobbing?
Crying is the general act of shedding tears from emotion or pain. Sobbing is a more intense, noisy form of crying, marked by gasping breaths and shaking. All sobbing is crying, but crying becomes sobbing only when it grows loud, convulsive, and hard to control.
Is crying good for you?
Many experts believe so. Crying can release built-up tension, ease stress, and signal to others that you need comfort and support. Emotional tears may help the body process grief or pain. While it will not solve a problem, a good cry often leaves people feeling calmer and relieved.
Why do people cry when they are happy?
Tears are not limited to sadness. Intense emotion of any kind, whether joy, relief, pride, or love, can overwhelm the body and trigger crying. Some researchers think happy tears help restore emotional balance when feelings run very high, which is why weddings and reunions so often bring them on.
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