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

• complainingly adverb
• complainer noun
• complainable adjective
• 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

George Russell wanted a soft tyre recently and complained about this.

From BBC

Ballesteros, who was himself only 26, initially complained about how much he had to help the Englishman.

From BBC

He dismisses that as "chips and chicken nuggets" and says hotel residents have complained it makes them feel ill.

From BBC

One woman's daughter complained to me that her mother hadn't been showered for two weeks.

From BBC

“They are complaining constantly about recruitment and retention and looking every which way to maintain their workforce — and here comes along ICE — trying to pull those officers away.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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