Today we are going to look at plenty of examples of complain in a sentence, along with related words and expressions. Use them for English speaking, reading, and grammar practice. I would recommend reading and repeating them all out loud to better remember them and become comfortable with the structures used. Some of the additional expressions that feature today’s word are:
- Complain about
- Complain to
- Make a complaint
- Lodge a complaint
- Consumer complaint
Complain in a sentence
- She always complains when the food is cold.
- I don’t like to complain, but this isn’t working.
- James and his neighbors often complain about the traffic.
- They never complain, even when things go wrong.
- My brother complains every time we go shopping.
- The workers complain to their boss about the long hours.
- Please don’t complain before you try it.
- Many customers complain when the line is too long.
- Lena complains loudly, but no one listens.
- I complain about the heat every summer.
Related: 100 Examples Of Conjunctive Adverbs In Sentences

Complaint in a sentence
- She filed a complaint about the broken heater.
- His only complaint was the wait time.
- We heard the same complaint from several neighbors.
- The manager took the complaint seriously.
- Marcus made a complaint to customer service.
- There was no complaint from Jack, just silence.
- I wrote a complaint after my order arrived late.
- They ignored the first complaint, so I called again.
- The loud music led to a noise complaint.
- A complaint like that should not be ignored.
Related: 100 short sentences

Complained in a sentence
- She complained about the slow internet.
- I complained to the front desk right away.
- The neighbors complained about the barking dog.
- Mia complained, but no one paid attention.
- He complained to his landlord about the leak.
- We complained after waiting an hour.
- They complained during the entire trip.
- The customer complained about the service.
- Tasha complained that the room was too hot.
- People complained, but nothing changed.
Complaining in a sentence
- She is always complaining about the weather.
- I heard them complaining all night.
- The kids kept complaining during the trip.
- Marcus is complaining about the long wait.
- People are complaining about the new rules.
- Lena stopped complaining once she got help.
- We were complaining because the food was cold.
- He kept complaining about his job.
- Complaining doesn’t solve any problems.
- They are complaining loudly outside.
Complaint vs complain

The words complaint and complain are related but used differently. Complaint is a noun that refers to the problem someone talks about. Complain is a verb that describes the action of saying something is wrong. The table below explains their meanings, how to use them in a sentence, and gives example sentences to help you understand.
Word | Type | Meaning | Word Order / Usage | Example Sentences |
---|---|---|---|---|
complaint | Noun | A statement about a problem or issue | Usually: Subject + made a complaint + about + object Or: There was a complaint + from/about + object/person | 1. The customer made a complaint about the broken chair. 2. There was a complaint from neighbors about loud music. |
complain | Verb | To say something is wrong or not good | Subject + complain(s) + (about) + object/problem | 1. I complain when the service is slow. 2. They complain about the long wait every time. |
Complain about
Complain about means to say that you are unhappy or not satisfied with something. When someone complains about something, they tell others that there is a problem or that they don’t like a situation. It is often used to talk about things that bother people.
- She complains about the noise outside her window.
- They complain about the slow internet service every day.
- I don’t like to complain about my work, but this task is hard.
Complain of
Complain of is used when someone talks about feeling pain or having a health problem. It often refers to physical or medical issues someone is experiencing. People use it to describe symptoms or discomfort.
- He complained of a headache all afternoon.
- The patient complained of stomach pain to the doctor.
- She complained of feeling tired after the long trip.
Make a complaint
Make a complaint means to officially say or write that something is wrong or unfair. It usually happens when someone wants to report a problem to a company, boss, or authority. People make complaints to try to get a problem fixed.
- I made a complaint about the noisy neighbors.
- She made a complaint to the manager about the poor service.
- They made a complaint after their order was missing.
File a complaint
File a complaint means to officially report a problem or issue, usually by filling out a form or telling an authority. It is a formal way to say that you want action to be taken. People file complaints when they want someone to investigate or fix a problem.

- He filed a complaint with the company about the broken product.
- Maria filed a complaint after her package never arrived.
- They filed a complaint to the police about the stolen bike.
Lodge a complaint
Lodge a complaint means to officially report a problem or dissatisfaction to someone in authority. It is a formal way to say you want your concern to be heard and addressed. People lodge complaints when they want to make sure their issue is taken seriously.
- She lodged a complaint with the hotel about the dirty room.
- The workers lodged a complaint about unsafe working conditions.
- He lodged a complaint to the city about the broken streetlights.
Complain Bitterly
Complain bitterly means to complain in a very strong and unhappy way, showing deep frustration or anger. It usually describes loud or emotional complaints.
- She complained bitterly about the unfair treatment.
- They complained bitterly when the project was canceled.
- He complained bitterly after losing his job.
Complainant
A complainant is a person who makes a complaint, especially in a formal or legal situation. This word often appears in official reports or court cases.
- The complainant said the noise was unbearable.
- The police spoke to the complainant about the theft.
- As a complainant, she wanted her problem solved quickly.
Consumer Complaint

A consumer complaint is a problem or dissatisfaction reported by a customer about a product or service. Companies often have departments to handle these complaints.
- The company received many consumer complaints about late deliveries.
- A consumer complaint was filed about the defective phone.
- Consumer complaints help businesses improve their products.
Nothing to Complain About
Nothing to complain about means there is no reason to be unhappy or complain; everything is good or acceptable.
- After the repairs, there was nothing to complain about.
- The guests said there was nothing to complain about during their stay.
- I have nothing to complain about with this job.
Make a Formal Complaint
To make a formal complaint means to officially report a problem, usually in writing or through a formal process. It is more serious than a simple complaint.

- She made a formal complaint to the company’s customer service department.
- The workers made a formal complaint about unsafe conditions.
- To solve the issue, he decided to make a formal complaint.
Whine and Complain
To whine and complain means to complain in a way that sounds annoying or childish, often without trying to fix the problem.
- Stop whining and complaining and do something about it.
- The children whined and complained all day during the trip.
- He whined and complained about his chores again.
Can’t Complain
Can’t complain is a phrase people use to say things are okay or good, even if they are not perfect. It means there is no big problem.
- How is your new job? — I can’t complain.
- The weather was fine today, so I can’t complain.
- Life is busy, but I can’t complain.
Complain To
Complain to means to tell someone, usually a person in charge or authority, about a problem or dissatisfaction.
- She complained to the manager about the broken air conditioner.
- They complained to the landlord about the leaking roof.
- If you’re unhappy, you should complain to the customer service team.
Here is a list of phrases that are related to the word complain:
lodge a complaint | complain bitterly | complainant | consumer complaint |
nothing to complain about | make a formal complaint | whine and complain | can’t complain |
complain to | complain about | complain of | make a complaint |
file a complaint |
Complain in a sentence
I hope that you have enjoyed reading through and repeating today’s many examples of complain in a sentence, along with the related phrases and expressions!