Cry vs. Bawl — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Cry and Bawl
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Definitions
Cry
Shed tears, typically as an expression of distress, pain, or sorrow
Don't cry—it'll be all right
You'll cry tears of joy
Bawl
Shout or call out noisily and unrestrainedly
‘Move!’ bawled the drill corporal
We began to bawl out the words of the carol
Cry
Shout or scream, typically to express fear, pain, or grief
The little girl fell down and cried for mummy
Bawl
Weep or cry noisily
I began to bawl like a child
Cry
(of a bird or other animal) make a loud characteristic call
The wild birds cried out over the water
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Bawl
A loud, unrestrained shout
He addressed every class in a terrifying bawl
Cry
A loud inarticulate shout or scream expressing a powerful feeling or emotion
A cry of despair
Bawl
To cry or sob loudly; wail.
Cry
The loud characteristic call of a bird or other animal
The harsh cries of magpies
Bawl
To cry out loudly and vehemently; shout.
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Cry
A spell of shedding tears
I still have a cry, sometimes, when I realize that my mother is dead
Bawl
To utter in a loud, vehement voice.
Cry
A pack of hounds
He kept a cry of hounds to hunt in the wilderness
Bawl
A loud, bellowing cry; a wail.
Cry
To shed tears, especially as a result of strong emotion such as grief, sorrow, pain, or joy.
Bawl
(transitive) To shout or utter in a loud and intense manner.
Cry
To call loudly; shout.
Bawl
(intransitive) To wail; to give out a blaring cry.
Cry
To utter a characteristic sound or call. Used of an animal.
Bawl
(intransitive) To weep profusely.
Cry
To demand or require immediate action or remedy
Grievances crying out for redress.
Bawl
A loud, intense shouting or wailing.
Cry
To utter loudly; call out.
Bawl
To cry out with a loud, full sound; to cry with vehemence, as in calling or exultation; to shout; to vociferate.
Cry
To proclaim or announce in public
Crying one's wares in the marketplace.
Bawl
To cry loudly, as a child from pain or vexation.
Cry
To bring into a particular condition by weeping
Cry oneself to sleep.
Bawl
To proclaim with a loud voice, or by outcry, as a hawker or town-crier does.
Cry
(Archaic) To beg for; implore
Cry forgiveness.
Bawl
A loud, prolonged cry; an outcry.
Cry
A loud utterance of an emotion, such as fear, anger, or despair.
Bawl
Shout loudly and without restraint
Cry
A loud exclamation; a shout or call.
Bawl
Make a raucous noise
Cry
A fit of weeping
Had a good long cry.
Bawl
Cry loudly;
Don't bawl in public!
Cry
An urgent entreaty or appeal.
Cry
A public or general demand or complaint.
Cry
A common view or general report.
Cry
An advertising of wares by calling out
Vendors' cries at the fish market.
Cry
A rallying call or signal
A cry to arms.
Cry
A slogan, especially a political one.
Cry
The characteristic call or utterance of an animal.
Cry
The baying of hounds during the chase.
Cry
A pack of hounds.
Cry
(Obsolete) Clamor; outcry.
Cry
(Obsolete) A public announcement; a proclamation.
Cry
(intransitive) To shed tears; to weep.
That sad movie always makes me cry.
Cry
(transitive) To utter loudly; to call out; to declare publicly.
Cry
(ambitransitive) To shout, scream, yell.
Cry
(intransitive) To utter inarticulate sounds, as animals do.
Cry
(transitive) To cause to do something, or bring to some state, by crying or weeping.
Tonight I’ll cry myself to sleep.
Cry
To make oral and public proclamation of; to notify or advertise by outcry, especially things lost or found, goods to be sold, auctioned, etc.
To cry goods
Cry
Hence, to publish the banns of, as for marriage.
Cry
A shedding of tears; the act of crying.
After we broke up, I retreated to my room for a good cry.
Cry
A shout or scream.
I heard a cry from afar.
Cry
Words shouted or screamed.
A battle cry
Cry
A clamour or outcry.
Cry
(collectively) A group of hounds.
Cry
A pack or company of people.
Cry
(of an animal) A typical sound made by the species in question.
"Woof" is the cry of a dog, while "neigh" is the cry of a horse.
Cry
A desperate or urgent request.
Cry
(obsolete) Common report; gossip.
Cry
To make a loud call or cry; to call or exclaim vehemently or earnestly; to shout; to vociferate; to proclaim; to pray; to implore.
And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice.
Clapping their hands, and crying with loud voice.
Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry unto thee.
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord.
Some cried after him to return.
Cry
To utter lamentations; to lament audibly; to express pain, grief, or distress, by weeping and sobbing; to shed tears; to bawl, as a child.
Ye shall cry for sorrow of heart.
I could find it in my heart to disgrace my man's apparel and to cry like a woman.
Cry
To utter inarticulate sounds, as animals.
The young ravens which cry.
In a cowslip's bell I lieThere I couch when owls do cry.
Cry
To utter loudly; to call out; to shout; to sound abroad; to declare publicly.
All, all, cry shame against ye, yet I 'll speak.
The man . . . ran on,crying, Life! life! Eternal life!
Cry
To cause to do something, or bring to some state, by crying or weeping; as, to cry one's self to sleep.
Cry
To make oral and public proclamation of; to declare publicly; to notify or advertise by outcry, especially things lost or found, goods to be sold, ets.; as, to cry goods, etc.
Love is lost, and thus she cries him.
Cry
To publish the banns of, as for marriage.
I should not be surprised if they were cried in church next Sabbath.
Men of dissolute lives cry down religion, because they would not be under the restraints of it.
Cry
A loud utterance; especially, the inarticulate sound produced by one of the lower animals; as, the cry of hounds; the cry of wolves.
Cry
Outcry; clamor; tumult; popular demand.
Again that cry was found to have been as unreasonable as ever.
Cry
Any expression of grief, distress, etc., accompanied with tears or sobs; a loud sound, uttered in lamentation.
There shall be a great cry throughout all the land.
An infant crying in the night,An infant crying for the light;And with no language but a cry.
Cry
Loud expression of triumph or wonder or of popular acclamation or favor.
The cry went once on thee.
Cry
Importunate supplication.
O, the most piteous cry of the poor souls.
Cry
Public advertisement by outcry; proclamation, as by hawkers of their wares.
The street cries of London.
Cry
Common report; fame.
The cry goes that you shall marry her.
Cry
A word or phrase caught up by a party or faction and repeated for effect; as, the party cry of the Tories.
All now depends upon a good cry.
Cry
A pack of hounds.
A cry more tunableWas never hollaed to, nor cheered with horn.
Cry
A pack or company of persons; - in contempt.
Would not this . . . get me a fellowship in a cry of players?
Cry
The crackling noise made by block tin when it is bent back and forth.
Cry
A loud utterance; often in protest or opposition;
The speaker was interrupted by loud cries from the rear of the audience
Cry
A loud utterance of emotion (especially when inarticulate);
A cry of rage
A yell of pain
Cry
A slogan used to rally support for a cause;
A cry to arms
Our watchword will be `democracy'
Cry
A fit of weeping;
Had a good cry
Cry
The characteristic utterance of an animal;
Animal cries filled the night
Cry
Utter a sudden loud cry;
She cried with pain when the doctor inserted the needle
I yelled to her from the window but she couldn't hear me
Cry
Shed tears because of sadness, rage, or pain;
She cried bitterly when she heard the news of his death
The girl in the wheelchair wept with frustration when she could not get up the stairs
Cry
Utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy;
`I won!' he exclaimed
`Help!' she cried
`I'm here,' the mother shouted when she saw her child looking lost
Cry
Proclaim or announce in public;
Before we had newspapers, a town cryer would cry the news
He cried his merchandise in the market square
Cry
Demand immediate action;
This situation is crying for attention
Cry
Utter a characteristic sound;
The cat was crying
Cry
Bring into a particular state by crying;
The little boy cried himself to sleep
