# cry

/ˈkɹaɪ/ (US) · /kɹˈaɪ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. to shed tears

verb · CEFR A1

to produce tears from your eyes because you are sad, angry, or in pain.

For teachers: to shed tears as an expression of distress, pain, or sorrow. Intransitive in this primary sense.

- The little boy started to cry when he fell off his bicycle in the park.
- She didn't want to cry in front of her colleagues, so she waited until she reached the privacy of her car to let the tears fall.

### 3. an act of weeping

noun · CEFR A2

a period of time spent crying.

For teachers: a spell or fit of weeping.

- Sometimes a good cry makes you feel much better when you are stressed.
- After receiving the news, she went upstairs for a long cry, emerging an hour later looking exhausted but calm.

### 4. a loud shout

noun · CEFR B1

a loud shout or a sudden sound made by an animal.

For teachers: a loud vocal sound, either human or animal, expressing a specific emotion or signal.

- We heard a loud cry for help coming from the woods behind the house.
- The haunting cry of a lone wolf echoed through the valley, startling the hikers who were setting up their camp.

### 5. an urgent request

noun · CEFR B2

a strong or desperate request for help or attention.

For teachers: a desperate or urgent appeal for assistance or public attention.

- The charity's advertisement was a cry for help for the victims of the flood.
- The protest was seen by many as a desperate cry for justice in a system that had ignored the community for decades.

## Examples

- She felt much better after having a good cry.
- The sudden cry of a bird in the middle of the night startled the campers.
- The politician's speech was a rallying cry for those who felt the current system had failed to address the needs of the working class.

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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.