cry for

phrasal verb

cried for; crying for; cries for

: to need or require (something) very much

This problem is crying for a solution.

The old house is crying for a new coat of paint.

Examples of cry for in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web That’s the rallying cry for many of those who feel shocked by skyrocketing antisemitism and Islamophobia on college campuses and K-12 schools. —

Boaz Dvir, TIME, 6 May 2024 Jews see the phrase as a call for the destruction of Israel, while pro-Palestinians — including Jewish students who have chanted it on campuses — see it as a cry for freedom. —

Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2024 Deputies were told about 3:15 p.m. of a shooting in front of a home near Remington Way and Silvergate Court during which a neighbor heard cries for help, the Yuba County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release. —

Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 3 May 2024 Rooted in the experiences of Houston’s streets, the song became a rallying cry for a generation, embodying the spirit of resilience and community pride. —

Walaa Elsiddig, Billboard, 2 May 2024 The Second Amendment is a rallying cry for many, but the Eighth—against cruel and unusual punishment—can barely find a voice. —

Scott Guild, TIME, 23 Apr. 2024 Majority of calls don't involve weapons; still a cause for concern Most calls involved just threats — cries for attention or help. —

The Arizona Republic, 22 Apr. 2024 The story about parents who ignored their son's cries for help and bought him a gun started on Nov. 26, 2021, at an Oxford gun store. —

Doc Louallen, ABC News, 20 Apr. 2024 The noise was enough to bring children pouring out of the house, including a girl heard crying for her daddy through the pile of debris. —

Mark Price, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cry for.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.