What does cried mean?
"Cried" is the past tense and past participle of "cry," a verb with two principal meanings: shedding tears in response to strong emotion, and calling out loudly. In its tearful sense, it describes a deeply human reaction to grief, physical pain, overwhelming joy, or relief — people cry at funerals, weddings, and reunions alike, which gives the word a broad emotional range. In its vocal sense, "cried" can describe shouting a warning, protest, or appeal, as in "she cried for help." The word appears in many familiar idioms, including "cried over spilled milk" and "cried one's eyes out." It derives through Old French from the Latin quiritare, meaning to raise a plaintive outcry. Because it covers both weeping and calling aloud, context determines which sense a reader should take, though the emotional, tearful sense dominates modern usage. Its universality makes it one of the most frequently used verbs of emotion in English.
verbPast tense and past participle of “cry”: to shed tears, typically as an expression of emotion such as sorrow, pain, or joy, or to call out loudly with a shout or utterance.
- To have shed tears as an expression of sadness, pain, relief, or joy.
- To have called out loudly or made a sharp vocal exclamation.
- (Of an animal) To have given its characteristic call.
"She cried herself to sleep after reading the letter."
"He cried when he heard the news of his grandmother's passing."
"“Look out!” she cried, grabbing his arm just in time."
The word “cry” comes from the Latin quiritare, literally meaning “to call on the Quirites” — the Roman citizens whose name became a byword for pleading loudly.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of cried
The verb "cry" entered Middle English from Old French "crier," which itself derived from the Latin "quiritare," meaning to lament or shriek. The Latin term is traditionally linked to "Quirites," the formal name for Roman citizens, suggesting an original sense of invoking them for help or justice. From these roots the word developed both its sense of loud calling and, by extension, weeping, before settling into modern English with both meanings intact.
Related word forms
How cried is actually used
As a past tense form, “cried” carries a strong emotional connotation and is used across all registers, though phrases like “cried one's eyes out” belong to informal speech.
Easily confused with cried
“Cried” alone means shed tears or shouted, while “cried out” specifically means to make a sudden loud vocal exclamation.