cry
cry
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "cry" is /kraɪ/.
Syllable Breakdown:
/kraɪ/ - The word "cry" is a single syllable.
/k/ - voiceless velar stop
/r/ - voiced alveolar approximant
/aɪ/ - diphthong (as in "my" or "pie")
Word Form Variations
Verb:
Base form: cry
Third-person singular present: cries
Present participle: crying
Past tense: cried
Past participle: cried
Noun:
Singular: cry
Plural: cries
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
To shed tears, often as an expression of sadness, pain, or strong emotion.
Synonyms: weep, sob, wail, lament, bawl
Antonyms: laugh, smile, rejoice, grin
To shout or make a loud vocal sound, often to attract attention, express an opinion, or give a warning.
Synonyms: yell, shout, scream, bellow, exclaim, call
Antonyms: whisper, murmur, mumble, speak softly
To implore or appeal for something urgently or desperately.
Synonyms: plead, beg, implore, appeal, beseech
Antonyms: demand, insist, refuse, reject
To proclaim or announce publicly.
Synonyms: herald, announce, declare, broadcast, publish
Antonyms: conceal, suppress, hide, withhold
Noun
An act of shedding tears; a period of weeping.
Synonyms: sob, wail, lamentation, weep
Antonyms: laugh, chuckle, giggle, smile
A loud vocal sound, shout, or call.
Synonyms: yell, shout, scream, bellow, call, exclamation
Antonyms: whisper, murmur, mumble, silence
An urgent appeal or demand.
Synonyms: plea, appeal, demand, clamor, entreaty
Antonyms: refusal, rejection, denial
A distinctive sound or call made by an animal.
Synonyms: call, sound, bark, meow, roar, howl
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as this refers to a specific type of sound)
Examples of Use
Books:
"Call it the 'Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother.' My mother would often cry to me, 'I'm not doing this for me. I'm doing this for you.'" (Amy Chua, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, January 2011) - Here, "cry" refers to a forceful declaration or repeated admonition.
Newspapers:
"Environmental groups cry foul over new logging permits in old-growth forests." (Headline, The Guardian) - In this instance, "cry" means to loudly protest or express strong disapproval.
"The baby's incessant cry echoed through the quiet hospital ward." (The New York Times) - This refers to the noun form of "cry," meaning a period of weeping or a wail.
Online Publications:
"Fans around the world will cry tears of joy or sorrow depending on the outcome of the championship match." (ESPN.com) - This uses "cry" in its most common verb sense of shedding tears.
"A widespread cry for reform has emerged from citizens frustrated with the current political system." (Politico.com) - Here, "cry" as a noun signifies an urgent and widespread demand or appeal.
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: In the animated film Monsters, Inc. (November 2001), the power of Monstropolis is generated by the screams of human children, often depicted as a loud "cry" of fear or distress.
Music: The song "Don't Cry" by Guns N' Roses (November 1991) directly uses the verb "cry" as an imperative, urging someone not to weep.
Television Series: In many crime dramas, a character might cry out for help when in danger. For example, a character might "let out a bloodcurdling cry" in Law & Order (first aired September 1990).
Video Games: In The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (March 2017), when Link's health is low, the game might play a sound effect that resembles a pained "cry."
General Public Discourse:
"When the team scored the winning goal, there was a collective cry of excitement from the crowd." (Heard at a sporting event) - This refers to a loud shout or exultant sound.
"It's no use to cry over spilled milk." (Common idiom, frequently used in everyday conversation) - This proverbial use implies that it's pointless to lament or worry about something that cannot be changed.
"The public's cry for justice after the verdict was palpable." (Observed in a public demonstration, January 2025) - Here, "cry" as a noun signifies a strong and collective demand or plea.
10 Quotes Using Cry
"A man can cry because he's brave enough to cry." (James Baldwin)
"Do not cry because it is over, smile because it happened." (Dr. Seuss)
"The cry of the poor is not always just, but if you don't listen to it, you will never know what justice is." (Pope Francis)
"They say that a good man is hard to find, but I cry in the shower every night and no one seems to care." (Emo Philips)
"When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight." (Kahlil Gibran, though commonly rephrased to include "cry" in the context of tears)
"If you want to be happy, do not dwell in the past, do not worry about the future, do not focus on what is ahead, but live in the present moment." (Roy T. Bennett, often rephrased as "Don't cry over spilled milk.")
"Sometimes the only thing you can do is cry." (Oprah Winfrey)
"When you cry and laugh at the same time, it's called a 'crylaugh.'" (Unknown)
"The ocean makes a mighty cry to the moon." (From a traditional sea shanty)
"The cry of 'fire' in a crowded theatre is not protected by freedom of speech." (Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., Schenck v. United States, March 1919)
Etymology
The word "cry" has a fascinating history! It actually comes from an old French word, "crier," which means "to announce publicly, proclaim, scream, or shout." This Old French word, in turn, came from a Latin word, "*critare," which might have been a variation of quirītāre, meaning "to wail or shriek." Some people even think quirītāre might have been linked to an older idea of calling out to Roman citizens (Quirites) for help.
The first known use of "cry" as a verb in English appeared around 1225 during the Middle English period. At that time, its main meaning was "to yell something out, utter," or "to beg, implore; speak earnestly and loudly; advertise by calling out."
Interestingly, the meaning of "cry" as "to shed tears" came a bit later in the 13th century. Before that, the word "weep" was more commonly used for shedding tears. But over time, "cry" took over that meaning, probably because both senses involve making a loud, often emotional, sound. So, from public announcements and urgent pleas, the word evolved to also cover the very personal act of weeping.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Cry
Cry wolf: To raise a false alarm; to give a warning when there's no real danger.
Cry over spilled milk: To be upset about something that has already happened and cannot be changed.
A far cry from: Very different from; a long way from.
Cry out for (something): To be in desperate need of something; to clearly show a need for something.
Cry your eyes out: To cry a lot and for a long time.
Cry uncle: To admit defeat; to surrender.
Cry havoc: To give the signal for widespread destruction or disorder.
For crying out loud: An exclamation of exasperation, frustration, or annoyance.
A battle cry: A shout or slogan uttered by soldiers or competitors before or during battle, or a slogan used to rally support for a cause.
In full cry: (Often referring to hounds) pursuing prey with loud barking; in full pursuit or vigorous operation.
A cry for help: An urgent appeal for assistance.
Cry a river: To cry excessively (often used hyperbolically or sarcastically).
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of cry from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
