complain
to express dissatisfaction, pain, uneasiness, censure, resentment, or grief; find fault: He complained constantly about the noise in the corridor.
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.
Origin of complain
1synonym study For complain
Opposites for complain
Other words from complain
- com·plain·a·ble, adjective
- com·plain·er, noun
- com·plain·ing·ly, adverb
- un·com·plained, adjective
- un·com·plain·ing, adjective
- un·com·plain·ing·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use complain in a sentence
Reuters, which obtained the letter earlier, reports that the coalition is the largest ever to complain in concert to the EU’s competition division.
Act now before Google kills us, 135-strong coalition of startups warns EU antitrust chief | Natasha Lomas | November 12, 2020 | TechCrunchAs in the spring, hospitals are complaining about shortages of personal protective equipment, such as gloves, masks and face shields.
As coronavirus soars, hospitals hope to avoid an agonizing choice: Who gets care and who goes home | Darryl Fears, Joel Achenbach, Brittney Martin | November 12, 2020 | Washington PostAccompanying the complaint were 238 pages of affidavits from 107 poll watchers who complained of various issues during the counting of the ballots, particularly in Detroit.
Pressure mounts on state Republicans as lawsuits challenging election results founder | Elise Viebeck, Tom Hamburger, Jon Swaine, Emma Brown | November 12, 2020 | Washington PostHe noticed that, several days before the election, about 25 of the publishers began to complain that Facebook had penalized them by reducing their traffic.
‘Stop the Steal’ supporters, restrained by Facebook, turn to Parler to peddle false election claims | Elizabeth Dwoskin, Rachel Lerman | November 10, 2020 | Washington PostGoogle competitors in the online shopping business, meanwhile, complain the playing field is still tilted in the tech giant’s favor.
Europe fined Google nearly $10 billion for antitrust violations, but little has changed | Jeanne Whalen | November 10, 2020 | Washington Post
There are a few good ones, Antoine says, but he complained bitterly of a lack of responsiveness.
One lefty tweeter even complained that an invasion of icky American tourists would undermine “family values” in Cuba.
Castro's Hipster Apologists Want to Keep Cuba ‘Authentically’ Poor | Michael Moynihan | December 18, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTEven local chickens were more expensive than in the summer, Smirnova and another woman at the counter complained.
One industry executive complained that Wright returned unapproved applications “dripping in red pen.”
Two Texas Regulators Tried to Enforce the Rules. They Were Fired. | David Hasemyer, InsideClimate News | December 9, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe pensioners complained that authorities were closing their Khamovniki district clinic.
Madame Ratignolle begged Robert to accompany her to the house; she complained of cramp in her limbs and stiffness of the joints.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories | Kate Chopin"You've been getting me into trouble with old Mr. Crow," Grandfather Mole complained.
The Tale of Grandfather Mole | Arthur Scott Bailey"A hundred angleworms in the middle of the night wouldn't do me any good," Mr. Blackbird complained.
The Tale of Grandfather Mole | Arthur Scott BaileyHe put on his soft hat and nervously took it off again, and wiping his face with his handkerchief, complained of the heat.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories | Kate ChopinThese illegal combinations in America were obviously what caused the inconveniences of which the merchants complained.
The Eve of the Revolution | Carl Becker
British Dictionary definitions for complain
/ (kəmˈpleɪn) /
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
Origin of complain
1Derived forms of complain
- complainer, noun
- complainingly, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with complain
see can't complain.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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