complaincom‧plain /kəmˈpleɪn/ ●●● S2 W3 verb 
Residents are complaining because traffic in the area has increased. ‘You never ask my opinion about anything,’ Rod complained.complain (that) She complained that no one had been at the airport to meet her.complain about She often complains about not feeling appreciated at work.complain of Several women have complained of sexual harassment.complain to Neighbours complained to the police about the dogs barking. Employees complained bitterly about working conditions.GRAMMARYou complain about something or someone: · They complained about the service. ✗Don’t say: They complained against the service. | They complained for the service.2(I/you/he etc) can’t complain spoken used to say that a situation is satisfactory, even though there may be a few problems: I make a good living. I can’t complain.COLLOCATIONSadverbscomplain bitterly (=in a very angry way)· My grandfather’s always complaining bitterly about how expensive things are.complain loudly· The kids were complaining loudly about the heat.constantly complain· She was constantly complaining about her job.phraseshave the right to complain· You have the right to complain if you’re not satisfied with the service you’re getting.have (good) reason to complain· We felt we had good reason to complain about the food at the hotel.have little/no reason to complain· The school is good and parents have little reason to complain.have cause to complain· Patients sometimes have cause to complain about the hospital treatment they receive.be in a position to complain (=have a good reason to complain)· If you feel you are bullied at work, you are certainly in a position to complain.be the first to complain (=be quick to complain)· He’s the first to complain if he thinks something is unfair.THESAURUScomplain to say that you are annoyed, unhappy, or not satisfied about something or someone: · Several customers complained about the service they received.· ‘I wish you’d stop telling me what to do,’ she complained.make a complaint to formally complain about something to someone in authority: · His parents made a complaint to the head teacher.protest to complain about something that you think is wrong, especially publicly: · Demonstrators were protesting against the war.object to say that you oppose or disapprove of something: · Local residents have objected to the plan.· Some teachers objected to the scheme.grumble to keep complaining in a bad-tempered way about something: · Rail travellers have been grumbling about the increase in ticket prices.· What’s he grumbling about now?moan/whine informal (also whinge /wɪndʒ/ British English informal) to keep complaining in an annoying way: · Everyone was moaning about the hotel food.· Stop whingeing and get on with your work!kick up/make a fuss to complain or become angry about something, especially something that is not very important: · The soup wasn’t hot enough, but he didn’t want to make a fuss.· He kicked up such a fuss that they were offered another room.complain of something phrasal verb formal to say that you feel ill or have a pain in a part of your body: Dan’s been complaining of severe headaches.
WORD ORIGINcomplain
Origin:
1300-1400 Old French complaindre, from Vulgar Latin complangere, from Latin com- ( ➔ COM-) + plangere ( ➔ PLAINT)VERB TABLE
complain
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | complain |
| he, she, it | complains | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | complained |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have complained |
| he, she, it | has complained | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had complained |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will complain |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have complained |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am complaining |
| he, she, it | is complaining | |
| you, we, they | are complaining | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was complaining |
| you, we, they | were complaining | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been complaining |
| he, she, it | has been complaining | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been complaining |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be complaining |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been complaining |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- He constantly complains about how he's treated at work.
- If the hotel isn't satisfactory, you should complain to the Tourist Office.
- Jenny's always complaining that her boss gives her too much work.
- Their neighbours complained about their constant loud music.
- We had to remove the advertisement because so many people complained.
- Workers who had lost their jobs complained bitterly about the way they had been treated.
- But you won't catch me complaining.
- Denise complained bitterly after he died.
- I should have complained about the first case, but I was inexperienced then.
- Many were calling the central office to complain.
- Once at her new work place she complained bitterly of how her style had been cramped.
- The patient complained that she had to void more urine.
- This was a worker who showed up every day, never complained, you know, gave the job his all.
THESAURUS
to say that you are annoyed, unhappy, or not satisfied about something or someone: · Several customers complained about the service they received.· ‘I wish you’d stop telling me what to do,’ she complained.
to formally complain about something to someone in authority: · His parents made a complaint to the head teacher.
to complain about something that you think is wrong, especially publicly: · Demonstrators were protesting against the war.
to say that you oppose or disapprove of something: · Local residents have objected to the plan.· Some teachers objected to the scheme.
to keep complaining in a bad-tempered way about something: · Rail travellers have been grumbling about the increase in ticket prices.· What’s he grumbling about now?
informal (also whinge British English informal) to keep complaining in an annoying way: · Everyone was moaning about the hotel food.· Stop whingeing and get on with your work!
to complain or become angry about something, especially something that is not very important: · The soup wasn’t hot enough, but he didn’t want to make a fuss.· He kicked up such a fuss that they were offered another room.
Longman Language Activatorto say that you are annoyed or not satisfied about something to say that you are annoyed and not satisfied about something or someone: · We had to remove the advertisement because so many people complained.· Residents are complaining because traffic in the area has increased.complain about: · Their neighbours complained about their constant loud music.complain that: · Jenny's always complaining that her boss gives her too much work.complain to: · If the hotel isn't satisfactory, you should complain to the Tourist Office.constantly complain: · He constantly complains about how he's treated at work.complain bitterly (=complain very strongly): · Workers who had lost their jobs complained bitterly about the way they had been treated.
to formally complain about something to someone in authority: · Write to this address if you wish to make a complaint.make a complaint to: · Parents made a complaint to the principal about bullying in the school.
British /file a complaint American to make an official complaint, usually in writing, to someone in authority: · She went to the city council and lodged a complaint.lodge a complaint with: · The company said it plans to file a complaint with the International Trade Commission.lodge a complaint against: · Conyers said she had been blocked from promotion after filing a complaint against a male co-worker.
to complain about something, especially publicly or officially, because you are annoyed or think it is unfair: · He was carried away in a police van, protesting loudly.protest about: · Passengers protested angrily about increased rail fares.protest to: · The journalists have protested to government officials about the way they were treated.protest (that): · Dan protested it wasn't him who had caused the problems.protest your innocence (=say that you are innocent): · Mills, who has been in prison since 1987, has always protested his innocence.
to say that you do not agree with something or you do not approve of it, because it annoys you or offends you: · "My name's not Sonny," the child objected.object to: · Does anyone object to these proposals?object if: · Will she object if I use her laptop?
to speak or write to someone in authority complaining about something: · I told her she should take it up with her local council.· Alton said he was prepared to take the matter up with the Ministry of Health if necessary.
to talk about the things you are unhappy or annoyed about, especially in public to people in authority so that they can do something about them: · The meeting gave employees an opportunity to air their grievances.· The uprising at Southport prison ended after inmates were allowed to air their grievances to the media.
to complain a lot in an annoying way especially British, informal to keep complaining in an annoying way - use this about someone who complains all the time, even about things that are not important: · I'm fed up with hearing you moaning the whole time!moan about: · Why do people always moan about the weather?
to keep complaining in a bad-tempered way, especially when you think you have been treated unfairly: · The old man turned away, grumbling as he went.grumble about: · She was grumbling about having to work so late.· The people standing beside me were grumbling about not being able to find a place to park.
especially British also kick up a fuss British to complain angrily and noisily about something, so that everyone hears you or notices you: · I don't understand why you're making such a fuss. It's not that important.make a fuss about: · The couple sitting next to us made a big fuss about their bill.
British informal to keep complaining about something or someone's behaviour in an annoying way: · Our neighbours are always going on about the noise we make.go on and on about (=for a long time): · Look, I'm sorry I kept you waiting, but there's no need to go on and on about it.
to keep complaining to someone, especially in order to make them do something that they do not want to do: · I wish you'd stop nagging me.nag about: · My mom's always nagging me about my room.nag at: · Jane's boss nags at her all the time.
British informal to keep complaining in an annoying way - use this when someone is complaining about something that is not important or is something they could change if they really wanted to: whinge about: · He's always whinging about being underpaid.· Nick was a pain in the neck. He did nothing but whinge the whole trip.
to keep complaining about something unimportant, especially in a sad, annoying voice: · "What did you do that for?" he whined.· For heaven's sake stop whining. Nobody has touched your precious records.whine about: · He's always whining about how much everything costs.
someone who is always complaining someone who is always complaining: · Her dad's a terrible grouch.· You're such a grouch in the morning.
British informal someone who is always complaining, is never happy, and does not like other people to enjoy themselves: · Emma is a real misery guts.· Stop being such a misery. It's not the end of the world.
British informal someone who keeps complaining in an annoying way - use this when someone is complaining about something that is not important or is something they could change if they wanted to: · This place is full of whingers. It's just pathetic.·
a complaint something that you say or write when you are complaining, especially to someone in an official position: · If you have any complaints, please contact our customer relations department.· Our main complaint is the poor standard of service.· If you have a complaint, you should write to the manager.make a complaint: · Some employees are worried about what will happen to them if they make a complaint.complaint about: · Keating was dismissed after complaints about the quality of his work.formal complaint: · Mr Kelly has made a formal complaint against the police.letters of complaint: · The commission has so far received nearly 10,000 letters of complaint.
when someone complains publicly about something that they think is wrong or unfair and should not be allowed to happen: · Despite their protests, the students' fees were increased.in protest (=as a way of making a protest): · When two members of the team were dismissed, the rest of them walked out in protest.protest against: · The ambassador lodged a formal protest against the proposals.ignore somebody's protests: · Ignoring my protests, he took off his jacket and wrapped it around my shoulders.
an angry protest by a lot of people about something that they think is very wrong or unfair: · Despite an outcry, the university refused to change its admission policies.public outcry: · The shooting of an unarmed teenager by police caused a public outcry.outcry about/over: · There was a widespread outcry over the increase in fuel tax.outcry against: · The public outcry against the executions made little difference.
something that you feel unhappy about because you think that you have been treated unfairly - use this especially about an official complaint you make about the place where you work: file a grievance (=officially complain): · She filed a grievance last year after her supervisor refused to promote her.grievance against: · Anyone who has a legitimate grievance against the company can take it to the arbitration committee.air a grievance (=discuss a grievance publicly): · The meetings give employees the opportunity to express their views or air grievances.
informal something unimportant that you keep complaining about or feel unhappy about: · Students' main gripe is the poor quality of the dorm food.· I left the house because I wasn't in the mood to listen to Maude's gripes.
to have an illness also have got British to have an illness: · Beth has an awful cold.· I had all the usual childhood illnesses.· Have you ever had pneumonia?· I think Jo's got flu.
to have a particular type of illness or health problem, especially one that is serious or one that you have often: · Dewey had been in hospital for several weeks suffering from malaria.· She suffers from asthma attacks.
informal use this to say that you have a medical problem affecting part of your body, but you are not sure exactly what it is: · There's something wrong with my chest - it feels really tight.· We thought there might be something wrong with her hearing.
use this before the name of a disease, to say that someone has this disease: · "Where's Helen?" "She's in bed with flu."· The charity provides support for people with AIDS.
to tell a doctor that you have a particular kind of pain or other sign of being ill - used especially to say what the person who is ill said: · He was admitted to hospital complaining of severe stomach pains.· Many patients complain of headaches and difficulty sleeping when they take this drug.
to have an illness, especially a serious illness, that you caught from another person: · Figures released last week put the number of people infected with HIV at over 30,000.· Did you know when you first met him that he was infected with the disease?
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYadverbs He complained bitterly about his exam grades.
1[intransitive, transitive] to say that you are annoyed, not satisfied, or unhappy about something or someone: (=in a very angry way)· My grandfather’s always complaining bitterly about how expensive things are.
· The kids were complaining loudly about the heat.
· She was constantly complaining about her job.
phrases· You have the right to complain if you’re not satisfied with the service you’re getting.
· We felt we had good reason to complain about the food at the hotel.
· The school is good and parents have little reason to complain.
· Patients sometimes have cause to complain about the hospital treatment they receive.
(=have a good reason to complain)· If you feel you are bullied at work, you are certainly in a position to complain.
(=be quick to complain)· He’s the first to complain if he thinks something is unfair.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES He complained bitterly about his exam grades. (=say that you have a headache)· Your child may complain of headaches or problems seeing the blackboard.
(=say that you have a pain in a part of your body)· After we finished our run, Tom complained of pains in his chest.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· Gray complained about the team's lack of good luck.· Ugly, yes, but nothing Bob Dole would complain about.· It has put together a machine with little to complain about.· In the cases that Keenan complained about, Huckelberry admits changing the decision of the selection committee, but denies any wrongdoing.· I do not complain about that so far as he is concerned because no doubt it would be an additional and unnecessary expense for him.· Too many lawyers complain about the sameness of their activity, day to day, month to month.· The trains are so fast that the passengers complain about not being able to see any of the countries beautiful scenery.· The 30-foot Fleetwood was immaculate, and we found little to complain about.
· Historians have always complained of content overloads in syllabuses and National Curriculum orders are no different.· My 11-year-old son is always complaining his tummy hurts.· Ada Gaily complained, had always complained, loud and long and bitterly, against the tenor of her life.· Why do people always complain about that?· He is always complaining about having to flog electric storage heaters anyway.· Ed was always complaining, those last few months.· The man who shared her apartment was surly, unfriendly, and always complaining about the lifts and the garbage disposal.
· The boys gasped, wheezed and giggled; the plumper ones complained bitterly.· He complained bitterly after being surprised by Pat Buchanan in an early primary about a pollster whose predictions had been too optimistic.· Student B immediately slams it shut, complaining bitterly of hay fever.· He complained bitterly of the small attention that was paid to his ideas in his own country.· Lewis-Ann sat under a huge umbrella, fully clothed, complaining bitterly about being too hot.· Norah complained bitterly that her style had brought the company free publicity worth far more than it cost.· And he complains bitterly that exhaustive health tests were not done years ago.· We all complained bitterly when it looked as though Adobe was restricting the development of PostScript and keeping the market to itself.
· I never complained as I went off to watch West Ham that afternoon, having scoffed his portion of chips.· She has never complained of her arthritis to me-thinks it amounts to nothing beside mine.· She never complains even when she's not well.· This was a worker who showed up every day, never complained, you know, gave the job his all.· But she never complained, nor suggested they should not go.· People that pay for things never complain.· Even Zack, who never complained.· But our viewing choices are not as limited as you might think and our children have never complained of feeling deprived.
· Students often complain that nothing has been learned from a particular allocation.· The private sector often complains about public enterprise, arguing that government should not compete with business.· Since employees often complain about receiving belated information particular management attention should be given to correct timing.· Match anglers often complain about bad, or should I say thoughtless, pegging.· Critics of legal drafting often complain that lawyers are fond of using legal jargon.
NOUN· Sometimes, however, a customer will complain that he has been given incorrect change.· Fifty to 75 percent of the customers who complain and have their problem resolved would do business with the company again.· Irate customers who bother to complain to their local water executives will be told the rises are no higher than were forecast.· About a dozen customers complained to Young of discrimination.· This tends to support the hypothesis that although customers will complain about price increases it does not necessarily alter their visiting behaviour.· He points out that customers must first complain to the Tessa provider before lodging a claim with the ombudsman.· Better to have it from some one you know and respect, rather than have a customer complain.· I want to encourage such customers to complain and I want us to resolve those complaints quickly. courteously and efficiently.
· The response to mounting criticism is to reorganise or complain of lack of resources.· Nor did Amelia complain about her lack of money.· Some have complained about lack of space in just exercising their mounts.· Investors have complained about a lack of regulation over the Czech capital markets and poor disclosure rules for company information.· In October a former Minister, Charles Fiterman, withdrew formally from conference preparations, complaining about lack of internal democracy.· Some park museum directors complain about the lack of priority given their marketing, maintenance and operational needs.· He snores and she complains about the lack of a good cup of tea.· Our field stores have been complaining about the lack of responsiveness from the staff.
· One member complains about smoking in the chamber.· There is no water; members are complaining.· Most House members complain that Baird was rolled too often by the Senate.· I have curtained the towel service; members are complaining.· The court hearing system at Bushey isn't operating correctly; members are complaining.· One Conservative Member complained that ministers tended to dominate on regional programmes, while local Members were squeezed out.· Several new members complained that their subscriptions had been misused, but nobody running the society bothered to answer the complaints.
· Mrs. Mott had complained of the noise they made going to and fro.· They have complained about the noise and mess caused by builders working on apartments for the elderly.· This will also go a long way towards preventing your neighbour complaining about the noise you make.· All great fun for the flyer but not for those inclined to complain about noise pollution.· Residents nearby have complained about noise and disturbance late at night.· These results led the authors to assume that patients were unwilling to complain about noise levels.
· She continued to complain of epigastric pain and flatulence but repeated investigations were negative.· Two days later, after refusing to eat and complaining of stomach pain, Jimmy was hospitalized.· Patients may complain of intractable pain in the neck or the back of the head.· She complains of aching pain and has trouble sitting.· She hadn't complained about pain after that first night when she insisted on moving in and living with him permanently.· She went to hospital where she complained of pain in her right shoulder and in the right side of her chest.· He had a fever and complained about a pain in his right thigh.· The afflicted person will complain of aches and pains, headache, sore throat, loss of appetite, and general malaise.
· It means getting out on the road with the sales people before they complain about call schedules.· So what makes some people complain their day away?· At present 68 live in accommodation intended for 55. People living nearby complain that the children are disruptive.· The noise echoes throughout the usually serene hills surrounding Potrero, but few people are complaining about the commotion.· You never were, although the slum people were complaining that a monster was preying on them.· I hear people complaining about their lives and the world.· Currently, we tend to tolerate diseases and take action only when people start to complain.· But people complained that the Net has become too congested and slow, and too hard to make a profit on.
· Her husband said the petite woman had complained of fatigue as they plodded up a Canyon trail.· The report said there was not enough evidence in the case of the other two women who complained.· I once heard of a woman who complained that all the attractive men in London were gay.· Women clean house in a kibbutz because, like women everywhere, they complain that men would not do it properly.· The row started when the woman phoned to complain about comments she believed Snell had made about Ellesmere Port.· Menopausal women sometimes complain that with the cessation of ovarian function their femaleness is being stripped from them.
VERB· It was not long before they began to complain.· After a few minutes of running through drills, the girls began to complain of headaches and blurred vision.· People began to complain about feelings of sickness, vomiting, diarrhoea and headaches.· Hospitals, project managers revealed the findings of samples taken since tunnel toll takers began complaining early last month of noxious odors.· He began to complain about Theresa, who was studying for medical school.
· Thirdly, farmers are often heard to complain of a shortage of workers on the land.· Many years later we would hear her still complaining about this.· One was heard to complain that there were insufficient Trolls to go round.· In any case, since there was no reduction in his before-breakfast or after-supper appetites, he never heard her complain.· They do not want to be heard to complain.· Did you ever hear the cellphone operators complaining that the early competition adversely affected their business?· I had heard them complaining of how nauseated they felt, how the very thought of food sickened them.
· Wednesday Dad has started complaining about the school holidays early this year.· But it might be a little early to start complaining.· I thought I could let a dozen or so through before anyone would start to complain.· Currently, we tend to tolerate diseases and take action only when people start to complain.· You might start complaining that all these changes are happening too rapidly for comfort.· Jacqueline was awake and starting to complain.
· In May the Girls would sit out on the steel fire escapes during shows and write home complaining about the unaccustomed heat.· I am writing to complain about manufacturers who use unnecessary packaging.· Lots of readers have written in complaining about the lack of uniformity in children's clothes sizes.· Especially those who wrote in complaining about ish 82 and the new look.
Residents are complaining because traffic in the area has increased. ‘You never ask my opinion about anything,’ Rod complained.complain (that) She complained that no one had been at the airport to meet her.complain about She often complains about not feeling appreciated at work.complain of Several women have complained of sexual harassment.complain to Neighbours complained to the police about the dogs barking. Employees complained bitterly about working conditions.GRAMMARYou complain about something or someone: · They complained about the service. ✗Don’t say: They complained against the service. | They complained for the service.2(I/you/he etc) can’t complain spoken used to say that a situation is satisfactory, even though there may be a few problems: I make a good living. I can’t complain.COLLOCATIONSadverbscomplain bitterly (=in a very angry way)· My grandfather’s always complaining bitterly about how expensive things are.complain loudly· The kids were complaining loudly about the heat.constantly complain· She was constantly complaining about her job.phraseshave the right to complain· You have the right to complain if you’re not satisfied with the service you’re getting.have (good) reason to complain· We felt we had good reason to complain about the food at the hotel.have little/no reason to complain· The school is good and parents have little reason to complain.have cause to complain· Patients sometimes have cause to complain about the hospital treatment they receive.be in a position to complain (=have a good reason to complain)· If you feel you are bullied at work, you are certainly in a position to complain.be the first to complain (=be quick to complain)· He’s the first to complain if he thinks something is unfair.THESAURUScomplain to say that you are annoyed, unhappy, or not satisfied about something or someone: · Several customers complained about the service they received.· ‘I wish you’d stop telling me what to do,’ she complained.make a complaint to formally complain about something to someone in authority: · His parents made a complaint to the head teacher.protest to complain about something that you think is wrong, especially publicly: · Demonstrators were protesting against the war.object to say that you oppose or disapprove of something: · Local residents have objected to the plan.· Some teachers objected to the scheme.grumble to keep complaining in a bad-tempered way about something: · Rail travellers have been grumbling about the increase in ticket prices.· What’s he grumbling about now?moan/whine informal (also whinge /wɪndʒ/ British English informal) to keep complaining in an annoying way: · Everyone was moaning about the hotel food.· Stop whingeing and get on with your work!kick up/make a fuss to complain or become angry about something, especially something that is not very important: · The soup wasn’t hot enough, but he didn’t want to make a fuss.· He kicked up such a fuss that they were offered another room.complain of something phrasal verb formal to say that you feel ill or have a pain in a part of your body: Dan’s been complaining of severe headaches.