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cry on

B1 informal inseparable transitive

To seek emotional comfort or support from someone by sharing one's problems or grief with them.

In plain English

To go to someone and tell them your problems when you feel sad, looking for comfort.

What does "cry on" mean?

One main meaning — here's how to use it.

1 B1 idiomatic informal

To seek emotional comfort from someone by sharing one's troubles and sadness with them. Usually in the phrase 'cry on someone's shoulder'.

"After the break-up, she needed someone to cry on — and her sister was always there for her."

inseparable

Literal vs figurative

Words literally mean

Physically crying while resting one's head on another person's shoulder.

Actually means

To go to someone and tell them your problems when you feel sad, looking for comfort.

Usage tip

Almost always used in the fixed expression 'cry on someone's shoulder'. Implies seeking emotional rather than practical support. The person offering the shoulder is the listener and comforter.

Words that pair with "cry on"

Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.

shoulder friend partner family support comfort

How to conjugate "cry on"

The five tense forms you'll use most often.

Base
cry on
I/you/we/they
3rd person
cries on
he/she/it
Past simple
cried on
yesterday
Past participle
cried on
have + pp
-ing form
crying on
continuous

Hear "cry on" in the wild

Listen to native speakers using "cry on" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.

Other ways to say "cry on"

Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.

confide in lean on pour your heart out to seek comfort from turn to

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