crying
Americanadjective
-
demanding attention or remedy; critical; severe.
a crying evil.
-
reprehensible; odious; notorious.
a crying shame.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of crying
First recorded in 1300–50, crying is from the Middle English word cryenge. See cry, -ing 2
Vocabulary lists containing crying
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Sophocles’ Theban plays have dominated New York theater lately, but many other ancient dramas are crying out to be shared with the modern world.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026
Images released by a local media outlet showed a woman being evacuated on a stretcher and scenes of heartbreak outside the school, with people crying and hugging each other.
From Barron's • May 6, 2026
The Canadian study researchers argued that this shows precisely what they would expect—controlled crying doesn’t prevent children from waking up entirely.
From Slate • May 3, 2026
Actor, TV presenter and former Scunthorpe United youth-team player Jake is also a United fan, who remembers his dad crying when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored the winner in the 1999 Champions League final.
From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026
Pili ran to him, half crying and half laughing.
From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
