cry out
phrasal verb
cried out; crying out; cries out
1
: to make a loud sound because of pain, fear, surprise, etc.
She cried out in pain.
2
: to speak in a loud voice : to say something loudly or from a distance
We could hear them on the shore crying out to us, so we waved.
She cried out for help.
3
—used to say that something clearly needs or should have a particular thing, person, use, etc. —often + to be
A chair like this cries out to be used, not kept in some museum.
The meal cried out to be eaten with a nice white wine.
—often + forThe meal cried out for a nice white wine.
The job cries out for someone who's not afraid to take chances.
Examples of cry out in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Today, the echoes of those victims cry out for recognition and justice.
—
Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025
Everton have been crying out for a player with the Dane’s speed to break the lines.
—Patrick Boyland, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025
An addition of $27.6 million to a city budget that the mayor resists cutting while pursuing a move to shift more of the tax burden to commercial properties cries out for someone to hit the brakes, start asking questions and opening the books.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 16 Jan. 2025
Other signals that trigger thirst, like hormones related to kidney stress and low blood volume still circulate throughout the mammals’ bodies, which should, by all standard measures, be crying out for fluids.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 25 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cry out 
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Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025
Everton have been crying out for a player with the Dane’s speed to break the lines.
—Patrick Boyland, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025
An addition of $27.6 million to a city budget that the mayor resists cutting while pursuing a move to shift more of the tax burden to commercial properties cries out for someone to hit the brakes, start asking questions and opening the books.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 16 Jan. 2025
Other signals that trigger thirst, like hormones related to kidney stress and low blood volume still circulate throughout the mammals’ bodies, which should, by all standard measures, be crying out for fluids.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 25 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cry out
Dictionary Entries Near cry out
Cite this Entry
“Cry out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cry%20out. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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