complain meaning
complain :
to express dissatisfaction, to protest
verb
▪ She complains about the noise.
▪ She expresses that she is annoyed by the noise.
▪ He complains when things go wrong.
▪ He protests when things go wrong.
paraphrasing
▪ grumble – to express dissatisfaction quietly
▪ protest – to express disagreement or dissatisfaction
▪ gripe – to complain about something continuously
▪ object – to disagree or express disapproval
Pronunciation
complain [kəmˈpleɪn]
The stress is on the second syllable 'plain' and sounds like 'kuhm-PLAYN'.
Common phrases and grammar about complain
complain - Common meaning
verb
to express dissatisfaction, to protest
Part of Speech Changes for "complain"
▪ complaint (noun) – something that someone is not happy about
▪ complainer (noun) – a person who complains a lot
▪ complainant (noun) – person who makes a complaint
Common Expressions with "complain"
▪ complain about something – to say that something is wrong
▪ file a complaint – to formally say that something is wrong
▪ complain loudly – to express dissatisfaction with a loud voice
▪ complain to someone – to tell someone about your dissatisfaction
Important examples of complain in TOEIC
Vocabulary examples from the TOEIC test
In TOEIC word questions, complain is usually used to express dissatisfaction or problems with a service or situation.
Example of a confusing word: complement (to complete or enhance)
Grammar examples from the TOEIC test
Complain is used as a verb and is usually followed by 'about' plus a noun or a 'that' clause in TOEIC grammar questions.
complain
Idioms and fixed expressions in TOEIC
complain about
to express dissatisfaction about something, used in business or customer service contexts.
complain loudly
to express dissatisfaction in a loud manner, used when describing behavior in workplaces or public settings.
Differences between similar words and complain
complain
,
protest
differences
Complain is used to express dissatisfaction, often informally, while protest is to express objection, often more formally or publicly.
complain
,
gripe
differences
Complain is to express dissatisfaction, while gripe refers to grumbling or complaining informally and continuously.
Words with the same origin as complain
The origin of complain
'complain' comes from the Latin 'complangere', meaning 'to lament together'.
Word structure
It has the prefix 'com-' (together), root 'plang' (to strike or lament), and suffix 'e', so 'complain' means 'to lament together'.
Words with the same origin
The word's root is unclear or difficult to confirm.
