crying

[krahy-ing]

adjective

1. demanding attention or remedy; critical; severe.

   a crying evil.

2. reprehensible; odious; notorious.

   a crying shame.

crying

/ ˈkraɪɪŋ /

adjective

1. (prenominal) notorious; lamentable (esp in the phrase crying shame )

Other Word Forms

• cryingly adverb
• uncrying adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of crying¹

First recorded in 1300–50, crying is from the Middle English word cryenge. See cry, -ing ²

Example Sentences

In August 2025, Palestinian Islamic Jihad published a video of Rom, in which he is seen crying as he says he has run out of food and water.

Read more on BBC

The woman from seat 22D sat in her seat crying while waiting to deplane.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“Today I’m crying from happiness and hope, not sadness.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“I would be crying and just cursing, but honestly, to replace one cube is not so difficult,” he said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"It's unbelievable... You couldn't stop crying," he said.

Read more on Barron's