What does weepingly mean?
Weepingly is an adverb meaning “in a way characterized by weeping or tears.” It can describe an open display of sadness, as when someone speaks weepingly or begs weepingly for help. It also appears in phrases such as “weepingly funny” and “weepingly beautiful,” where it suggests that something is so emotionally affecting, exaggerated, or sentimental that it makes people want to cry. The expression can be appreciative or gently critical, depending on context: it might praise a moving performance while implying that another is excessively emotional. Although its literal use is readily understood, “weepingly” sounds more expressive and literary than the plainer “tearfully.” It is therefore especially effective in prose, humor, reviews, and descriptions of emotionally heightened situations, while “weepily” is a comparatively unusual alternative.
adverbIn a manner characterized by weeping or tears; tearfully. When paired with an evaluative word such as “funny” or “beautiful,” it means so movingly or exaggeratedly that it provokes tears.
- In a manner characterized by weeping or tears; tearfully.
- With an evaluative expression such as “funny” or “beautiful,” so movingly or exaggeratedly that it provokes tears.
"She appealed to the judges weepingly, tears running down her cheeks as she described the hardship she had endured."
"The child reached for her mother weepingly after losing her favorite toy."
"The comedy was weepingly sentimental, nearly bringing the entire audience to tears."
A stylistic passkey for heightened emotion: “weepingly” can make a joke, a song, or a scene seem almost too moving to bear.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does weepingly come from?
Weepingly was formed in English by adding the adverbial suffix “-ly” to “weep.” “Weep” descends from Old English wēpan, and close cognates include German weinen and Dutch wenen. The modern form follows the ordinary English pattern of converting an adjective or participle into an adverb with “-ly.”
How weepingly is actually used
This word has a literary or informal quality and is less neutral than “tearfully.” In expressions such as “weepingly funny,” it often implies exaggerated emotional or sentimental appeal, sometimes approaching mild criticism of the work being described.
Easily confused with weepingly
“Weepy” is an adjective describing someone or something tearful or excessively sentimental, whereas “weepingly” is an adverb describing how an action is performed.