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

The robot was an excellent mimic, and she began crying out in the sad voice of a wounded calf.

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"The brutality of it all impacted me a lot: the sorrow of the families, mothers fainting, pregnant wives, crying, outraged parents," the photographer recalled.

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The track masquerades as easygoing reggae-pop, but the singer is looking for payback—it turns out she’s grinning because her cheating ex is now crying.

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“I have two daughters, my oldest one, Jaclyn, and I were really tight when she was growing up,” Wawee said warning in advance that he might start crying retelling this story.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"She started crying straight away, I got too upset," Miss Wandelt said.

Read more on BBC