Meaning & use

cry

verb·Everyday

To shed tears, usually because of sadness, pain, or strong emotion, or to call out loudly.

See it in a sentence

The toddler began to cry when her favorite toy broke.

He heard a cry for help coming from somewhere down the dark hallway.

A note on using this word

Cry can mean to shed tears or, separately, to call out loudly, as in 'a battle cry'; context distinguishes the two senses.

Words with a similar meaning

weepsobshout

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

Make it your own

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