complain

About 6.93 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. verb To express feelings of pain, dissatisfaction, or resentment.

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

2. verb To state the presence of something negative; to indicate that one is suffering from something; to report (e.g.) a symptom.

   The patient complained of headache, nausea, and joint pain.

3. verb To make a formal accusation or bring a formal charge.

   They've complained about me to the police again.

4. verb To creak or squeak, as a timber or wheel.

   the complaining bed-springs

Similar words

kvetch kick sound off plain quetch complaint gripe moan bemoan deplore

Often followed by

of that about to if and when bitterly in

Word family

complained complainer complainers complaining complainingly complains