Phrasal verb
cry out
Definition
phrasal verb. to shout or make a loud sound because you are in pain, scared, or very surprised.
phrasal verb. to utter a loud, spontaneous vocalization in response to physical pain, intense emotion, or a sudden realization.
Examples
“She had to cry out when she stubbed her toe.”
“The hikers heard someone cry out for help from the bottom of the steep hill.”
“As the protagonist witnessed the destruction of his childhood home, he could not help but cry out in absolute despair.”
Examples
simple
“She had to cry out when she stubbed her toe.”
contextual
“The hikers heard someone cry out for help from the bottom of the steep hill.”
complex
“As the protagonist witnessed the destruction of his childhood home, he could not help but cry out in absolute despair.”
Usage
often followed by 'in' plus an emotion like 'pain', 'fear', or 'surprise'.
Teaching tip
distinguish this from 'cry' (to weep); 'cry out' focuses on the sudden vocal volume rather than the act of shedding tears.
Pitfall
He cried out for the pain.
He cried out in pain.
use 'in' to describe the emotion or state that caused the shout, rather than 'for'.
Phrasal verb
Particles
out
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
cry + out
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/cry-out