What does crying mean?
Crying is the act of shedding tears, most commonly as a physical expression of emotion. It is the present participle of the verb 'cry', which covers both weeping and calling out loudly. Humans cry in response to grief, pain, frustration, and even overwhelming joy or relief, making it one of the most universally understood forms of emotional expression. Beyond its everyday verbal sense, 'crying' also works as an adjective meaning urgent or deserving of immediate attention, as in phrases like 'a crying shame' or 'a crying need'. The word appears in many common idioms: 'for crying out loud' expresses exasperation informally, while 'crying over spilt milk' describes pointless regret over something already done. Crying can be gentle and quiet, as with whimpering or tearing up, or loud and intense, as with sobbing, wailing, or bawling — each term carrying its own shade of intensity. Whether describing a child's tears, a moment of catharsis, or an urgent social problem, 'crying' remains a versatile and deeply human word.
The action of shedding tears, typically as an expression of distress, sadness, or other strong emotion.
"Her crying finally subsided once she had talked about what happened."
Urgent, clamant, or demanding immediate attention.
"It was a crying injustice that went unaddressed for decades."
Almost always found in fixed expressions such as 'a crying shame' or 'a crying need'.
Present participle of 'cry': to shed tears, or to call out loudly.
"The child was crying because he had lost his toy."
Rarely used in the plural; the singular mass-noun sense of 'crying' is standard in almost all contexts.
"The cryings of the mourners could be heard across the village."
Humans are the only animals known to shed emotional tears — a crying shame for everyone else.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of crying
Crying derives from the Old French verb 'crier', meaning to shout or call out, which itself traces back to the Late Latin 'critare', from Latin 'critus' meaning a cry or outcry. The original sense of the English word was vocal — shouting or proclaiming loudly — and the sense of shedding tears developed later in Middle English. Related words from the same root include 'cry', 'crier' (as in a town crier), and 'recital' via related Latin forms.
Related word forms
How crying is actually used
As an adjective ('a crying shame', 'a crying need'), 'crying' carries a somewhat formal or literary register, while its verbal use ('the baby was crying') is entirely neutral and everyday. The idiom 'for crying out loud' is informal and used to express exasperation.
Easily confused with crying
Though near-synonyms, 'weeping' tends to sound more formal or literary than the everyday word 'crying'.