cry and shout share a recorded sense, so the question is not what they mean but which one fits. cry means “utter a sudden loud cry”. shout means “utter in a loud voice; talk in a loud voice (usually denoting characteristic manner of speaking)”. cry is the more common of the two in everyday English.
/ˈkɹaɪ/
1.v.utter a sudden loud cry
“she cried with pain when the doctor inserted the needle”
2.v.shed tears because of sadness, rage, or pain
“She cried bitterly when she heard the news of his death”
3.v.utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
“`I won!' he exclaimed”
/ˈʃaʊt/
1.v.utter in a loud voice; talk in a loud voice (usually denoting characteristic manner of speaking)
“My grandmother is hard of hearing--you'll have to shout”
2.v.utter a sudden loud cry
“she cried with pain when the doctor inserted the needle”
3.v.utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
“`I won!' he exclaimed”
| cry | shout | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈkɹaɪ/ | /ˈʃaʊt/ |
| Said | krahy | showt |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| Letters | 3 | 5 |
| Parts of speech | verb, noun | verb, noun |
| Senses | 12 | 5 |
| How common | Core | Common |
| Synonyms | shout, shout out, call | none recorded |
Full entry for cry · Full entry for shout · More comparisons