What does weeping mean?
Weeping is the act of shedding tears, commonly in response to sadness, grief, fear, pain, or another powerful emotion. It is more formal or literary than the everyday word crying, although both terms describe essentially the same basic action. As a verb, weeping can indicate either a continuing physical action or a broader condition of emotional distress: a person may be weeping quietly, weeping openly, or weeping with grief. As an adjective, weeping describes things associated with tears or a flow of liquid, including the familiar weeping willow and a weeping wound. The word also has a figurative use in expressions such as weeping with joy, which combines sorrow and happiness in a single striking image. Noun use is comparatively uncommon and usually treats weeping as an uncountable activity rather than as something with a regular plural.
To shed tears, especially because of sadness, grief, pain, fear, or intense emotion.
"He was weeping as he read the letter."
The present participle can describe an action in progress, as in 'she was weeping', and also function as a gerund, as in 'weeping brought her some relief'.
Characterized by or associated with the shedding of tears or a flow of liquid.
"The garden was shaded by a large weeping willow."
This adjective is common in expressions such as 'weeping wound', 'weeping tree', and 'weeping with joy'.
The act of shedding tears or the state of crying, especially through sadness or grief.
"There was no weeping at the ceremony, only a long silence."
Noun use is literary and generally uncountable; 'an act of weeping' is more natural than a plural form.
Usually uncountable; 'weepings' is not the standard general plural. Use 'acts of weeping' when referring to separate instances.
"The film is remembered for its scenes of grief and weeping."
Weeping has a double life: it can describe the private act of shedding tears or the unmistakable physical sign of a weeping wound, weeping tree, and even weeping with joy.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
Related word forms
How weeping is actually used
Weeping is more literary or old-fashioned than crying when it describes a person, and it often suggests visible tears and emotional distress. It can also be used figuratively in phrases such as 'weeping with joy', where sorrow and happiness are expressed in the same image. As an adjective, it is especially common in botanical, medical, and figurative expressions.
Easily confused with weeping
Weeping usually refers to the act of shedding tears, while wailing emphasizes a loud, prolonged cry of grief or distress.