cry for

Idioms  

1. Also, cry out for; have a crying need for. Be in urgent need of, as in This wall cries for a second coat of paint, or This car is crying out for a good washing, or There is a crying need for order in this house. The figurative use of cry for, literally meaning “implore” or “weep for,” dates from the late 1500s, as does the use of crying for “demanding attention.” The first variant, alluding to actually shouting out one's needs or desires, dates from the second half of the 1800s.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cry for

Scaloni, 48, may be out of a job when his contract expires in December, but his message for the fans was don’t cry for me, Argentina.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026

During the inquest, the coroner returned a conclusion of misadventure rather than suicide, describing Jack's actions as "at worst a cry for help and more likely, in my view, an expression of frustration and despair".

From BBC ● Feb. 18, 2026

“Learn a Trade” isn’t just a rallying cry for younger generations to skip college and pursue in-demand blue-collar work.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 7, 2026

“George’s name has become a rallying cry for those who believe in a better future, one where all people are treated with dignity and respect,” it reads.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 6, 2026

I cry for a long time, until I feel…better.

From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko

Related Words

• ask
• beseech
• recite
• urge