cry and yell share a recorded sense, so the question is not what they mean but which one fits. cry means “utter a sudden loud cry”. yell means “a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition”. 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”
/ˈjɛl/
1.n.a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
“the speaker was interrupted by loud cries from the rear of the audience”
2.n.a loud utterance of emotion (especially when inarticulate)
“a cry of rage”
3.v.utter a sudden loud cry
“she cried with pain when the doctor inserted the needle”
| cry | yell | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈkɹaɪ/ | /ˈjɛl/ |
| Said | krahy | yel |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| Letters | 3 | 4 |
| Parts of speech | verb, noun | noun, verb |
| Senses | 12 | 4 |
| How common | Core | Common |
| Synonyms | shout, shout out, call | cry, outcry, call |