What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
cry
Example
She couldn't help but cry when she heard the news. [cry: verb]
Example
The baby's cry could be heard from across the room. [cry: noun]
Example
He cried out for help when he fell off his bike. [cried: past tense]
wail
Example
The mourners wailed at the funeral, expressing their grief. [wailed: past tense]
Example
The injured animal let out a wail of pain. [wail: noun]
Example
She wailed in frustration when she realized she had lost her phone. [wailing: gerund or present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Cry is more commonly used than wail in everyday language. Cry is a common word that covers a wide range of emotions and situations, while wail is less common and more specific to expressing grief or pain.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between cry and wail?
Both cry and wail can be used in formal or informal contexts, but cry is more versatile and can be used in a wider range of formality levels.
