weep

¹

[weep]

verb (used without object)

wept, weeping 

1. to express grief, sorrow, or any overpowering emotion by shedding tears; shed tears; cry.

   to weep for joy;

   to weep with rage.

   Synonyms: lament, wail, sob
   Antonyms: rejoice, laugh

2. to let fall drops of water or other liquid; drip; leak.

   The old water tank was weeping at the seams.

3. to exude water or liquid, as soil, a rock, a plant stem, or a sore.

verb (used with object)

wept, weeping 

1. to weep for (someone or something); mourn with tears or other expression of sorrow.

   He wept his dead brother.

   Synonyms: lament, bemoan, bewail

2. to shed (tears); pour forth in weeping.

   to weep tears of gratitude.

3. to let fall or give forth in drops.

   trees weeping an odorous gum.

4. to pass, bring, put, etc., to or into a specified condition with the shedding of tears (usually followed by away, out, etc.).

   to weep one's eyes out;

   to weep oneself to sleep.

noun

1. weeping, or a fit of weeping.

2. the exudation of water or liquid.

weep

²

[weep]

noun

British Dialect.

1. the lapwing, Vanellus vanellus, of Europe.

weep

/ wiːp /

verb

1. to shed (tears) as an expression of grief or unhappiness

2. to utter, shedding tears

3. to mourn or lament (for something)

4. to exude (drops of liquid)

5. (intr) (of a wound, etc) to exude a watery or serous fluid

noun

1. a spell of weeping

Word History and Origins

Origin of weep¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English wepen, Old English wēpan “to wail”; cognate with Gothic wōpjan “to call,” Old Norse æpa “to cry out”

Origin of weep²

Imitative

Word History and Origins

Origin of weep¹

Old English wēpan; related to Gothic wōpjan, Old High German wuofan, Old Slavonic vabiti to call

Example Sentences

"The day that Charlie died, angels wept, but those tears have been turned into fire in our hearts," said Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff.

From BBC

Giant screens projected Bible verses and Turning Point USA ads as attendees waved flags, wept, prayed and sang along.

From Salon

Consumers of Mitchum's 48-hour roll-on anti-perspirant and deodorant complained on social media of having "agonising weeping spots", redness and irritation after using the product.

From BBC

The first felt too cold and couldn’t hack how to modernize Morfydd Clark’s Ophelia; the second started strong but got soggy with its repetitive weeping and gnashing.

From Los Angeles Times

As he spoke, a camera found a woman wearing an Oasis T-shirt openly weeping — openly sobbing — and sent her image to the giant video screens flanking the stage.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• break down 
• complain 
• grieve 
• howl 
• moan 
• mourn 
• sob 
• wail 
• whimper