crying

American  

[krahy-ing] / ˈkraɪ ɪŋ /

adjective

1. demanding attention or remedy; critical; severe.

   a crying evil.

2. reprehensible; odious; notorious.

   a crying shame.

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crying British  

/ ˈkraɪɪŋ /

adjective

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

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Other Word Forms

• cryingly
  adverb
• uncrying
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of crying

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

Example Sentences

Directors and playwrights can answer that question by exploring less familiar plays, some of which 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

Many embracing, a few crying or close to crying, many smiling as they took it in, believing now, believing in a footballing miracle.

From BBC • May 4, 2026

And this small 2016 study tested a type of controlled crying called graduated extinction, which also demonstrated significant benefits to parent-reported sleep for those who were given the sleep-training advice compared to those who weren’t.

From Slate • May 3, 2026

What if crying wasn’t the only thing I did?

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse