# carp

/ˈkɑɹp/ (US) · /kˈɑːp/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/carp
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

to complain about small, unimportant things. You use this when someone keeps finding tiny faults that do not really matter.

For teachers: to complain or find fault in a petty or nagging manner. Intransitive; typically followed by the preposition 'about' or 'at'.

## Examples

- He always finds something to carp about.
- The critics began to carp at the director's minor stylistic choices instead of reviewing the film's overall message.
- While the project was a resounding success, a few colleagues continued to carp about the font choice on the final presentation slides.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He carped the small mistakes." but "He carped about the small mistakes." — Carp is intransitive and requires a preposition like 'about' to connect to the thing being complained about.

## Usage notes

- The verb is intransitive and frequently takes the preposition 'about' or 'at' before the object of complaint.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.