Crying Cried I Cry Kraɪ Started Tears Eyes

• it's all right. don't cry.
• i just couldn't stop crying.
• the little boy fell over and started to cry.
• the baby was crying for (= because it wanted) its mother.

cry

Verb Forms

1. to produce tears from your eyes because you are unhappy or hurt
• It's all right. Don't cry.
• I just couldn't stop crying.
• The little boy fell over and started to cry.
• The baby was crying for (= because it wanted) its mother.
• There's nothing to cry about.
• He felt like crying with rage.
• She threw her arms around his neck crying tears of joy.
• He started to cry real tears.
• ‘Waaa!’ she cried.
• I found him crying his eyes out (= crying very much).
• That night she cried herself to sleep.

Extra Examples

• Anna was almost crying with frustration.
• Finally he broke down and cried like a baby.
• He put his head on his arms and cried bitterly.
• I felt like I wanted to cry.
• I felt like crying when I found out what had happened.
• I wasn't going to waste time crying over him!
• What are you crying about?
• children who are left to cry alone
2. to shout loudly
• She ran to the window and cried for help.
• ‘You're safe!’ Tom cried in delight.

Extra Examples

• ‘Never!’ he cried angrily.
• ‘What do you mean?’ she cried in agitation.
• ‘Who's there?’ she cried in a shrill voice.
• She cried for help as the fire spread.
3. to make a loud noise
• Seagulls followed the boat, crying loudly.
• A pair of eagles cried out to each other as they circled above the trees.
4. to complain that somebody else has done something wrong or unfair
5. to waste time worrying about something that has happened that you cannot do anything about
• As the saying goes—it's no use crying over spilt milk.
6. to call for help when you do not need it, with the result that when you do need it people do not believe you
7. used to show you are angry or surprised
• For crying out loud! Why did you have to do that?
8. to laugh so long and hard that there are tears in your eyes
9. to be unable to decide how to react to a bad situation
10. used to describe a person who listens to your problems and gives you sympathy
• He was a fatherly shoulder to cry on when things went wrong.

Word Origin

• Middle English (in the sense ‘ask for earnestly or loudly’): from Old French crier (verb), cri (noun), from Latin quiritare ‘raise a public outcry’, literally ‘call on the Quirites (Roman citizens) for help’.