cry out for
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To be in urgent need (of)
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
This state of affairs is crying out for an independent investigation.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “cry out for” mean?
To be in urgent need (of)
Is “cry out for” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.