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Synonyms

cry out

British  

verb

  1. to scream or shout aloud, esp in pain, terror, etc

  2. informal (often foll by for) to demand in an obvious manner

    our inner cities are crying out for redevelopment

  3. informal an exclamation of anger or dismay

"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

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.

A people can’t cry out for deliverance while refusing correction or ask God for justice while excusing wrongdoing in its own ranks.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 15, 2026

"I have come here to mourn an icon of Africa," one mourner, Dixon Ochieng, told the BBC, while others could be heard to cry out "we are orphans" in their grief.

From BBC • Oct. 18, 2025

The scenes between Sally and Blankson-Wood’s Clifford cry out for an acting coach — not a thought I can remember having at a premium Broadway revival of a classic musical in recent seasons.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2024

In one clip, as a soldier talks to a woman, presumably his wife, their children cry out, “We love and miss you.”

From New York Times • Apr. 3, 2024

It is evening, and if the train did not rattle I should cry out.

From "All Quiet on the Western Front: A Novel" by Erich Maria Remarque