complain

[kuhm-pleyn]

verb (used without object)

1. to express dissatisfaction, pain, uneasiness, censure, resentment, or grief; find fault.

   He complained constantly about the noise in the corridor.

   Antonyms: rejoice

2. to tell of one's pains, ailments, etc..

   to complain of a backache.

3. to make a formal accusation.

   If you think you've been swindled, complain to the police.

complain

/ kəmˈpleɪn /

verb

1. to express resentment, displeasure, etc, esp habitually; grumble

2. (foll by of) to state the presence of pain, illness, etc, esp in the hope of sympathy

   she complained of a headache

Other Word Forms

• complainable adjective
• complainer noun
• complainingly adverb
• uncomplained adjective
• uncomplaining adjective
• uncomplainingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of complain¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of complain¹

C14: from Old French complaindre, from Vulgar Latin complangere (unattested), from Latin com- (intensive) + plangere to bewail

Idioms and Phrases

see can't complain.

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

“Every day I discover more. I need to go back to fiction for a while — documentaries are exhausting. But I can’t complain. I wish everyone could be as passionate about their work as I am.”

From Los Angeles Times

Nine Swiss nationals who returned to Geneva on Sunday also complained about what they called the "inhumane detention conditions and the humiliating and degrading treatment", Reuters news agency cited a statement as saying.

From BBC

Dunlap said that his constituents have also complained that Golden is inaccessible.

From Salon

Piastri complained that he thought there had been an agreement that a slow pit stop was just a part of racing that had to be accepted, but acquiesced anyway.

From BBC

“We can never again take seriously anything these comedians complain about,” Cross said in his statement.”

From Salon

Related Words

• accuse 
• criticize 
• denounce 
• disagree 
• fret 
• gripe 
• grumble 
• lament 
• moan 
• object 
• oppose 
• protest