gripe

[grahyp]

verb (used without object)

griped, griping 

1. Informal.,  to complain naggingly or constantly; grumble.

   Synonyms: bellyache, rail, carp, mutter, whine

2. to suffer pain in the bowels.

3. Nautical.,  (of a sailing vessel) to tend to come into the wind; to be ardent.

verb (used with object)

griped, griping 

1. Informal.,  to annoy or irritate.

   His tone of voice gripes me.

2. to produce pain in (the bowels) as if by constriction.

3. to distress, afflict, or oppress.

   poverty that gripes and pinches us.

4. Nautical.,  to secure (a lifeboat) to a deck or against a pudding boom on davits.

5. Archaic.

   1. to seize and hold firmly with the hand, claws, etc.; grasp; clutch.

   2. to greedily take possession of and hold tightly.

      The miser gripes his money for fear of losing it.

noun

1. Informal.,  a nagging complaint.

2. Pathology.,  Usually gripes. an intermittent spasmodic pain in the bowels.

3. something that grips or clutches; a claw or grip.

4. Nautical.

   1. a lashing or chain by which a boat is secured to a deck or in position on davits.

   2. Also called gripe piece. a curved timber connecting the stem or cutwater of a wooden hull with the keel.

   3. the exterior angle or curve formed by this piece; forefoot.

   4. the forward end of the dished keel of a metal hull.

5. Archaic.

   1. the act of gripping, grasping, or clutching.

   2. a firm hold; clutch.

   3. mastery; hold; control.

6. Rare.,  a handle, hilt, etc.

gripe

/ ɡraɪp /

verb

1. informal,  (intr) to complain, esp in a persistent nagging manner

2. to cause sudden intense pain in the intestines of (a person) or (of a person) to experience this pain

3. (intr) nautical (of a ship) to tend to come up into the wind in spite of the helm

4. archaic,  to clutch; grasp

5. archaic,  (tr) to afflict

noun

1. (usually plural) a sudden intense pain in the intestines; colic

2. informal,  a complaint or grievance

3. rare

   1. the act of gripping

   2. a firm grip

   3. a device that grips

4. (in plural) nautical the lashings that secure a boat

Other Word Forms

• griper noun
• gripeful adjective
• gripingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of gripe¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English gripen, Old English grīpan; cognate with Dutch grijpen, German griefen; grip, grope

Word History and Origins

Origin of gripe¹

Old English grīpan; related to Gothic greipan, Old High German grīfan to seize, Lithuanian greibiu

Example Sentences

The high cost of housing is one of residents' most common gripes about living in the city that never sleeps.

Read more on BBC

She gripes, “Every day I’m just hoping that someone will die in an interesting way, so I’ll have something to write about.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The regular gripes about transfers were followed by a desperate beginning to the season.

Read more on BBC

Throughout this season, fans have griped about apparent false starts that officials have missed by the Eagles on the play.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

She heard plenty from business owners and, especially, put-upon residents of red California, who griped about Sacramento and its seeming disconnection from their lives and livelihoods.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• carp 
• grumble 
• moan 
• murmur 
• mutter 
• nag 
• squawk