cry

[kɹaɪ̯]

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crying - cry

A cry is a loud, emotional sound that someone makes when they are upset or in pain.

When we're feeling sad, scared, or frustrated, our bodies react by making noise - that's what we call crying. When people cry, it's often because something has happened to them that hurt their feelings, like losing someone they love or getting into a difficult situation. We've all heard people sobbing on the bus or in public, and maybe even done it ourselves. Sometimes we even cry for happy reasons, like when we're watching a sad movie together with friends!

How common is "cry"?

Word cry is considered common in modern English.
It appears most frequently in fiction texts and less often in other writings.

Definitions

noun

A shedding of tears; the act of crying.
Example: After we broke up, I retreated to my room for a good cry.
A shout or scream.
Example: I heard a cry from afar.
Words shouted or screamed.
Example: a battle cry
A clamour or outcry.
A group of hounds.
(by extension) A pack or company of people.
(of an animal) A typical sound made by the species in question.
Example: "Woof" is the cry of a dog, while "neigh" is the cry of a horse.
A desperate or urgent request.
Common report; gossip.

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verb

To shed tears; to weep.
Example: That sad movie always makes me cry.
To utter loudly; to call out; to declare publicly.
To shout, scream, yell.
To utter inarticulate sounds, as animals do.
To cause to do something, or bring to some state, by crying or weeping.
Example: Tonight I'll cry myself to sleep.
To make oral and public proclamation of; to notify or advertise by outcry, especially things lost or found, goods to be sold, etc.
Example: to cry goods
Hence, to publish the banns of, as for marriage.