Meaning of "complain" in the English dictionary

ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD COMPLAIN

From Old French complaindre, from Vulgar Latin complangere (unattested), from Latin com- (intensive) + plangere to bewail.

Etymology is the study of the origin of words and their changes in structure and significance.

PRONUNCIATION OF COMPLAIN

complain  [kəmˈpleɪn]

GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF COMPLAIN

Complain is a verb.

The verb is the part of the sentence that is conjugated and expresses action and state of being.

See the conjugation of the verb complain in English.

WHAT DOES COMPLAIN MEAN IN ENGLISH?

Complaint

In legal terminology, a complaint is any formal legal document that sets out the facts and legal reasons (see: cause of action) that the filing party or parties (the plaintiff(s)) believes are sufficient to support a claim against the party or parties against whom the claim is brought (the defendant(s)) that entitles the plaintiff(s) to a remedy (either money damages or injunctive relief)]). For example, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP) that govern civil litigation in United States courts provide that a civil action is commenced with the filing or service of a pleading called a complaint. Civil court rules in states that have incorporated the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure use the same term for the same pleading. In some jurisdictions, specific types of criminal cases may also be commenced by the filing of a complaint, also sometimes called a criminal complaint or felony complaint.

Definition of complain in the English dictionary

The definition of complain in the dictionary is to express resentment, displeasure, etc, esp habitually; grumble. Other definition of complain is to state the presence of pain, illness, etc, esp in the hope of sympathy.

CONJUGATION OF THE VERB TO COMPLAIN

PRESENT

Present

I complain

you complain

he/she/it complains

we complain

you complain

they complain

Present continuous

I am complaining

you are complaining

he/she/it is complaining

we are complaining

you are complaining

they are complaining

Present perfect

I have complained

you have complained

he/she/it has complained

we have complained

you have complained

they have complained

Present perfect continuous

I have been complaining

you have been complaining

he/she/it has been complaining

we have been complaining

you have been complaining

they have been complaining

Present tense is used to refer to circumstances that exist at the present time or over a period that includes the present time. The present perfect refers to past events, although it can be considered to denote primarily the resulting present situation rather than the events themselves.

PAST

Past

I complained

you complained

he/she/it complained

we complained

you complained

they complained

Past continuous

I was complaining

you were complaining

he/she/it was complaining

we were complaining

you were complaining

they were complaining

Past perfect

I had complained

you had complained

he/she/it had complained

we had complained

you had complained

they had complained

Past perfect continuous

I had been complaining

you had been complaining

he/she/it had been complaining

we had been complaining

you had been complaining

they had been complaining

Past tense forms express circumstances existing at some time in the past,

FUTURE

Future

I will complain

you will complain

he/she/it will complain

we will complain

you will complain

they will complain

Future continuous

I will be complaining

you will be complaining

he/she/it will be complaining

we will be complaining

you will be complaining

they will be complaining

Future perfect

I will have complained

you will have complained

he/she/it will have complained

we will have complained

you will have complained

they will have complained

Future perfect continuous

I will have been complaining

you will have been complaining

he/she/it will have been complaining

we will have been complaining

you will have been complaining

they will have been complaining

The future is used to express circumstances that will occur at a later time.

CONDITIONAL

Conditional

I would complain

you would complain

he/she/it would complain

we would complain

you would complain

they would complain

Conditional continuous

I would be complaining

you would be complaining

he/she/it would be complaining

we would be complaining

you would be complaining

they would be complaining

Conditional perfect

I would have complain

you would have complain

he/she/it would have complain

we would have complain

you would have complain

they would have complain

Conditional perfect continuous

I would have been complaining

you would have been complaining

he/she/it would have been complaining

we would have been complaining

you would have been complaining

they would have been complaining

Conditional or "future-in-the-past" tense refers to hypothetical or possible actions.

IMPERATIVE

Imperative

you complain
we let´s complain
you complain

The imperative is used to form commands or requests.

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

Infinitive

to complain

Past participle

complained

Present Participle

complaining

Infinitive shows the action beyond temporal perspective. The present participle or gerund shows the action during the session. The past participle shows the action after completion.

SYNONYMS OF «COMPLAIN»

The following words have a similar or identical meaning as «complain» and belong to the same grammatical category.

synonyms of complain

beef · bellyache · bemoan · bewail · bitch · bleat · carp · deplore · find fault · fuss · grieve · gripe · groan · grouch · grouse · growl · grumble · kvetch · lament · moan · nit-pick · put the boot in · whine · whinge

TRANSLATION OF COMPLAIN

Find out the translation of complain to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.

The translations of complain from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «complain» in English.

• Translator English - Chinese: 抱怨
• Translator English - Spanish: quejarse
• English: complain
• Translator English - Hindi: शिकायत
• Translator English - Arabic: يَشْكو
• Translator English - Russian: жаловаться
• Translator English - Portuguese: reclamar
• Translator English - Bengali: নালিশ করা
• Translator English - French: se plaindre
• Translator English - Malay: Mengadu
• Translator English - German: beklagen (sich)
• Translator English - Japanese: 不平を言う
• Translator English - Korean: 불평하다
• Translator English - Javanese: Sambat
• Translator English - Vietnamese: phàn nàn
• Translator English - Tamil: புகார்
• Translator English - Marathi: तक्रार करा
• Translator English - Turkish: şikayet
• Translator English - Italian: reclamare
• Translator English - Polish: naskarżyć się
• Translator English - Ukrainian: скаржитися
• Translator English - Romanian: a se plânge
• Translator English - Greek: παραπονιέμαι
• Translator English - Afrikaans: kla
• Translator English - Swedish: klaga
• Translator English - Norwegian: klage

10 QUOTES WITH «COMPLAIN»

Famous quotes and sentences with the word complain.

1

M. H. Abrams

When something startlingly new comes up, young people, especially, seize it. You can't complain about that. I think its heyday has passed, but it's had an effect and will continue to have an effect.

2

George Allen

We're going to hear a lot of spirited discussion about the President's plan in the next few days and weeks and that's fine as long as everyone comes ready to talk and not just snipe, complain and argue.

3

Aaron Allston

I really can't complain about actresses who get paid to be dumb. Most of us can't get paid to be smart.

4

Stanley Baldwin

You will find in politics that you are much exposed to the attribution of false motive. Never complain and never explain.

5

Elizabeth Banks

If I ever complain about yachting around the Mediterranean with Madonna, who I just idolized as a child, I should be slapped across the face.

6

Roseanne Barr

Women complain about PMS, but I think of it as the only time of the month when I can be myself.

7

Jason Bateman

If people are going to complain about stereotyping, it's as likely to be Italian-Americans as gay people.

8

David Beckham

I don't think I'm really in a situation to complain, because I consider myself to be privileged to be doing what I do.

9

Ritchie Blackmore

They used to complain at school that I looked out of the window for long periods of time - that sums up my life. I like to look out the window, do nothing, daydream.

10

Yasmine Bleeth

No one's ever happy with their position in Hollywood. You hear that from people you'd never dream would complain.

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «COMPLAIN»

Discover the use of complain in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to complain and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.

I Can't Complain: (All Too) Personal Essays

Whether for Lipman’s longtime readers or those who love the essays of Nora Ephron or Anna Quindlen, I Can't Complain is a diverting delight.

Elinor Lipman, 2013

How to Complain to the Un Human Rights Treaty System

With this volume Professor Bayefsky makes the international complaints procedure arising from the UN human rights treaty system available to individuals, lawyers, non-governmental organizations, and human right advocates in many parts of ...

Anne Fruma Bayefsky, 2002

Never Complain, Never Explain: The Story of Henry Ford II

Recounts the public and private lives of the enormously rich and powerful industrial magnate, including his boyhood in the shadow of his irascible grandfather, his three marriages, and his autocratic direction of the Ford Motor Company

Victor Lasky, 1983

I Hate to Complain, But...

A collection of columns by Jim Foster, an award-winning columnist for the Orillia Packet and Times, the Collingwood Enterprise-Bulletin, and the Oro Medonte Severn News.

Jim Foster, James E. Foster, 1999

Complain, Complain, Complain: The Canadian Consumer's Guide ...

COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN is your no-nonsense guide to productive complaining. It's also a complete and up-to-date directory of who to contact when you have problems with many different things, from banks to privacy issues.

Karen Molson, 1997

How to Complain in 12 Easy Steps

How to Complain in 12 Easy Steps was inspired by her psychiatrist Dr. Barsoum who complained that she didn't complain enough

Anita Brooks, 2012

Don't Complain

valuable advice on how to see the positive side of things and how to rid oneself of all kinds of complaints. by Mohorosh, based on the teachings of rabbi nachman of breslov and hisstudent rabbi nosson of breslov.

Mohorosh of Heichal Hakodesh Breslov

You Know Me; I'm Not One to Complain: Essays on Life and the ...

She tackled everything from kitchen pots to kibitzing pols, from gravy to graft, so to speak. This book promises you one laughing-out-loud page after another!

Dorothy Chapman, Paul Peck, 2008

I Won't Complain

Between getting caught up in the wild life and glamour of New Orleans and trying to live right, I Won't Complain follows the life of a young girl facing opprobrious challenges.

Elitia C Parker-Jennings, 2005

How to Complain: Spot the Tactics Employed by Companies ...

You are sitting down with family and friends in a supposedly smart restaurant—and the food is disgusting.

Mel Stein, 2005

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «COMPLAIN»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term complain is used in the context of the following news items.

Indigenous Leaders Complain of Being Left off Pope's Agenda

Ecuador's largest indigenous association is complaining that it was left off of Pope Francis's agenda during his visit to Ecuador, where the ... «ABC News, Jul 15»

Wimbledon viewers complain over Maria Sharapova's grunts in …

Scores of Wimbledon viewers have complained over the ear-splitting grunts during Sharapova's latest match - claiming they were so loud they ... «Daily Mail, Jul 15»

US woman arrested after calling 911 to complain about Chinese food

US woman arrested after calling 911 to complain about Chinese food. Quality of the fare on offer was 'not up to par' according to Tracey ... «Telegraph.co.uk, Jul 15»

Ryanair sale: Angry customers complain that preferred routes not …

Budget airline Ryanair is facing a backlash online over a flights promotion to mark its 30th anniversary. Customers complained there were little ... «Mirror.co.uk, Jul 15»

Conservative Media Complain That Seattle Teens Have Access To …

Conservative media are attacking a Seattle program that has offered teens access to long-term contraceptive options through their schools ... «Media Matters for America, Jul 15»

Residents complain of sewer backups

Heavy rains Monday forced open this manhole cover at Garfield Street and Western Avenue, Davenport, and it still was displaced Tuesday. «Quad City Times, Jul 15»

If You Want Organizational Change, Ask The Customer To Complain

Organizational change is always at the top of the C-suite agenda but if you're looking to improve operations across a number of areas where do ... «Forbes, Jul 15»

Woman calls 911 to complain Chinese takeaway was 'not to par'

An Alliance woman is due in court after phoning the emergency services on 911 to complain about her Chinese takeaway order being 'not to ... «Daily Mail, Jul 15»

Allerton residents complain of pipe pileup

Allerton residents complain of pipe pileup. Updated July 7, 2015 5:38 PM. Residents say the pipes span at least 20 feet long and have been on sitting on the ... «News 12 Bronx, Jul 15»

Lakewood residents complain of sewer backups, basement flooding

Lakewood residents complain of sewer backups, basement flooding. Lakewood City Hall.jpg. Lakewood city officials are handling numerous ... «cleveland.com, Jul 15»