cried: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
HighNeutral to informal. Common in everyday speech, narrative, and literary contexts. The shouting sense can be used in formal reports (e.g., 'He cried out in protest').
Quick answer
What does “cried” mean?
past tense and past participle of 'cry': to shed tears, often while making a vocal sound, typically as an expression of distress, pain, or sorrow. It can also mean to shout or call out loudly.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
past tense and past participle of 'cry': to shed tears, often while making a vocal sound, typically as an expression of distress, pain, or sorrow. It can also mean to shout or call out loudly.
Beyond literal weeping, 'cried' can indicate a strong, urgent vocal expression, such as proclaiming, demanding, or exclaiming. It often implies an emotional or physical outburst that is difficult to contain.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal lexical difference. The verb 'cry' itself is used identically. Potential minor differences in typical collocates or phrasing in examples.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both dialects.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “cried” in a Sentence
[Subject] cried.[Subject] cried [Adverbial] (e.g., bitterly, out).[Subject] cried [Direct Speech].[Subject] cried for [Noun Phrase] (e.g., for help, for her mother).Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cried” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The toddler cried all through the nappy change.
- 'Watch out!' he cried as the cyclist swerved.
- She cried for hours after the film ended.
American English
- The baby cried all through the diaper change.
- 'Look out!' he cried as the bike swerved.
- She cried for hours after the movie ended.
adverb
British English
- (Not standard; 'cried' is not used as an adverb.)
American English
- (Not standard; 'cried' is not used as an adverb.)
adjective
British English
- The cried-upon shoulder of his shirt was damp.
- (Rare usage, typically hyphenated in compound adjectives)
American English
- The cried-upon shoulder of his shirt was damp.
- (Rare usage, typically hyphenated in compound adjectives)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in metaphorical or narrative contexts (e.g., 'Shareholders cried foul').
Academic
Used in literary analysis, psychology, or historical narrative.
Everyday
Very common for describing emotional reactions or shouting.
Technical
Not typically used in technical fields.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cried”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cried”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cried”
- Using 'cried' for a prolonged past action without context (better: 'was crying').
- Misspelling as 'cryed'.
- Using the present perfect incorrectly (e.g., 'She has cried yesterday' - incorrect).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, you can 'cry with joy' or 'cry from laughter,' though weeping from sadness is the most common use.
'Cried' often indicates a completed action or a specific instance. 'Was crying' describes an ongoing action in the past, emphasizing the duration.
Yes, particularly in its meaning of 'shouted' or 'proclaimed' (e.g., 'The minister cried for reform'). The weeping sense is more common in narrative than in academic prose.
It is a regular verb. The past tense and past participle are formed by adding '-ed' to 'cry'. Note the spelling change: 'cry' -> 'cried'.
past tense and past participle of 'cry': to shed tears, often while making a vocal sound, typically as an expression of distress, pain, or sorrow. It can also mean to shout or call out loudly.
Cried: in British English it is pronounced /kraɪd/, and in American English it is pronounced /kraɪd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “cried wolf”
- “cried over spilt milk”
- “cried all the way to the bank”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'dried' tears - 'cried' often involves tears. The 'i' before 'e' follows the rule.
Conceptual Metaphor
EMOTION IS A FLUID (tears). INTENSE COMMUNICATION IS LOUD NOISE.
Practice
Quiz
In the sentence 'The street vendor cried his wares,' what does 'cried' mean?