complain
Americanverb (used without object)
-
to express dissatisfaction, pain, uneasiness, censure, resentment, or grief; find fault.
He complained constantly about the noise in the corridor.
- Antonyms:
- rejoice
-
to tell of one's pains, ailments, etc..
to complain of a backache.
-
to make a formal accusation.
If you think you've been swindled, complain to the police.
verb
-
to express resentment, displeasure, etc, esp habitually; grumble
-
(foll by of) to state the presence of pain, illness, etc, esp in the hope of sympathy
she complained of a headache
Related Words
Complain, grumble, growl, whine are terms for expressing dissatisfaction or discomfort. To complain is to protest against or lament a wrong: to complain about high prices. To grumble is to utter ill-natured complaints half to oneself: to grumble about the service. Growl may express more anger than grumble : to growl in reply to a question. To whine is to complain in a meanspirited way, using a nasal tone: to whine like a coward, like a spoiled child.
Other Word Forms
- complainable adjective
- complainer noun
- complainingly adverb
- uncomplained adjective
- uncomplaining adjective
- uncomplainingly adverb
Etymology
Origin of complain
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English compleinen, from Anglo-French compleign-, stem of compleindre, Old French complaindre, from Vulgar Latin complangere (unrecorded), from Latin com- com- + plangere “to beat, lament, strike”; plaint
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Residents began to complain of an “unbearable” stench that they said caused headaches, nausea, and eye, ear and nose irritation.
From Los Angeles Times
Groundskeepers are keen to avoid a repeat of the last Super Bowl at the Levi's, in 2016, when even the victorious Denver Broncos players complained after the game about the "terrible" slippery surface.
From Barron's
Portugal's A Bola newspaper said Ronaldo has complained that rival Saudi Pro League clubs got a better deal in the recent transfer window.
From Barron's
Giving evidence in court on Wednesday, her son initially struggled to compose himself, holding back tears as he complained of being "hassled" by the press since he was three years old.
From BBC
When I or my family go out to eat, I’m not going to complain about the prices.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
