Outcried Meaning and Definition
Outcried
Pronunciation
/ˈaʊtˌkraɪd/
Part of Speech
Verb
Definition
Past tense of “outcry,” meaning to utter a loud cry of pain, grief, or indignant protest.
Examples
- The crowd outcried in horror as the accident occurred.
- She outcried in despair as she realized her mistake.
Synonyms
- Cried out
- Uttered a cry
Antonyms
- Remained silent
- Whispered softly
Additional Information
Outcried is a verb that describes the act of making a loud and emotional cry, often in response to something distressing or painful. This word is commonly used to convey a sense of intense feeling or protest. In some contexts, outcried can also imply a sense of outrage or indignation. For example, “The crowd outcried in protest as the decision was announced.” In this example, the word outcried emphasizes the strong emotional response of the crowd to the decision.
Outcried can also be used in a more literal sense, to describe the act of making a loud cry. For example, “She outcried in pain as the nurse inserted the needle.” In this example, the word outcried emphasizes the intensity of the person’s physical response to the pain.
In literature and poetry, outcried is sometimes used to convey a sense of dramatic or emotional emphasis. For example, “The poet’s words outcried the anguish of the human condition.” In this example, the word outcried emphasizes the strong emotional impact of the poet’s words.
The word “outcry” comes from the Old English words “ūt” meaning “out” and “crīgan” meaning “to cry”. The past tense form “outcried” was first used in the 15th century.
Usage Notes
Outcried is often used in informal or emotive contexts, such as in literature or poetry. In formal or technical contexts, the word may be replaced with more neutral language, such as “uttered a cry” or “made a loud noise”.
Cultural References
The word “outcry” appears in Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth”, in the line “Out, out, brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow…” (Act 5, Scene 5).
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
- (“raises an outcry”) to cause a strong reaction of protest or disapproval.
- (“outrun the outcry”) to exceed or surpass the level of public reaction or criticism.
Related Words or Phrases
- Cry out
- Utter a cry
- Exclaim
Collocations
- The crowd outcried in horror.
- She outcried in despair.
Frequency of Use
Outcried is a relatively rare word, with a frequency of use of around 0.01% in modern English language.
Common Misspellings
- Outcrid
- Outcrite