Complain

//kəmˈpleɪn// verb

verb ·Common ·High school level

Definitions

Verb
  1. 1
    To express feelings of pain, dissatisfaction, or resentment. intransitive

    "Joe was always complaining about the noise made by his neighbours."

  2. 2
    make a formal accusation; bring a formal charge wordnet
  3. 3
    To make a formal accusation or bring a formal charge. intransitive

    "They've complained about me to the police again."

  4. 4
    express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness wordnet
  5. 5
    To creak or squeak, as a timber or wheel.

    "the complaining bed-springs"

Synonyms

All synonyms
beefbitchgripegrousegrumblekvetch

Antonyms

All antonyms
cheer

Example

More examples

"You've got nothing to complain of."

Etymology

From Middle English complaynen, from Old French complaindre, from Medieval Latin complangere (“to bewail, complain”), from Latin com- (“together”) + plangere (“to strike, beat, as the breast in extreme grief, bewail”); see plain, plaint.

Related phrases

can't complaincomplain kingcomplain queenyou'd complain if you were hung with a new rope

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.