complain
verb (used without object)
to express dissatisfaction, pain, uneasiness, censure, resentment, or grief; find fault.
are complaining
-
present progressiveof complain.present progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or state that is currently taking place in the immediate present.
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.
What people are complaining about in his diary seems minuscule compared with all he has done for the medical world.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026
Waiting staff across the US agree, and some are complaining if they think they have not been sufficiently tipped.
From BBC ● May 27, 2026
But 49-year-old Tonekabon said "even wealthy people are complaining", as tenants -- including his own -- struggle to pay rent.
From Barron's ● Apr. 30, 2026
In social-media posts, some people are complaining that the overtime deduction isn’t cutting their bill as much as hoped.
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 13, 2026
I close my eyes and pull air inside, despite how my lungs are complaining and already seem full.
From "The Knife of Never Letting Go" by Patrick Ness
