# complain

/kəmˈpɫeɪn/ (US) · /kəmplˈeɪn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/complain
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to express dissatisfaction

verb · CEFR A2

to say that you are not happy with a situation or that something is wrong.

For teachers: to express feelings of resentment, pain, or dissatisfaction regarding a situation or person.

- The neighbors complained about the loud music coming from our apartment last night.
- Several passengers complained about the lack of communication from the airline during the four-hour delay at the terminal.

Usage: Often followed by the prepositions 'about' or 'that'.

### 2. to report a medical symptom

verb · CEFR B1

to tell a doctor or someone else that you feel pain or are sick.

For teachers: to report a physical ailment or symptom of illness.

- He went to the doctor because he was complaining of chest pains.
- The patient complained of persistent migraines and blurred vision, prompting the neurologist to order a series of diagnostic scans.

Usage: Commonly used with 'of' followed by the specific symptom.

### 3. to make a formal charge

verb · CEFR B2 · Formal

to make a formal statement to the police or an official about a crime or bad behavior.

For teachers: to lodge a formal accusation or legal charge against a party.

- The company decided to complain to the regulator about the unfair competition.
- The victim chose to complain to the authorities after discovering that the contractor had systematically overcharged for the repairs.

Usage: Often used in legal or administrative contexts.

### 4. to creak under pressure

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary

to make a high noise because of heavy weight or pressure, like an old floor or a ship.

For teachers: to emit a characteristic creaking or groaning sound when subjected to physical stress or pressure.

- The old wooden stairs complained as I walked up them in the middle of the night.
- The ship's timbers complained loudly as the vessel pitched against the violent waves of the North Atlantic.

## Examples

- He likes to complain about the cold weather.
- If the food is cold when it arrives, you should complain to the manager immediately.
- While some residents chose to complain about the noise levels, others simply invested in better insulation to block out the sound of the nearby construction.

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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.