weep

¹

[ weep ]

verb (used without object)

, wept [wept], weep·ing [wee, -ping].

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 [wept], weep·ing [wee, -ping].

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. trfoll byout to utter, shedding tears
3. whenintr, foll by for 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

When her team took the protein away from mice, their bodies couldn’t turn off the weep and sweep.

From Science News For Students

Black and white were now mixing sufficiently to make a Klan member weep.

From The Daily Beast

She did not weep on cue in public when Monteith died, or seek sympathy.

From The Daily Beast

“For all the victims of the mindless wars, in every age, humanity needs to weep,” he said.

From The Daily Beast

World leaders, and we, should look on them, be sickened, weep, and maybe finally learn.

From The Daily Beast

“A typical parent would weep in this situation, but they showed no emotion,” he remembers in the documentary.

From The Daily Beast

And for fear of being ill spoken of weep bitterly for a day, and then comfort thyself in thy sadness.

From Project Gutenberg

Behold they that see shall cry without, the angels of peace shall weep bitterly.

From Project Gutenberg

Lyn was no chicken-hearted weakling, to sit down and weep unavailingly in time of peril.

From Project Gutenberg

Pau longed to weep with her, and in his efforts to console, he addressed her with rather vague remarks.

From Project Gutenberg

Oliver felt stunned and stupified by the unexpected intelligence; he could not weep, or speak, or rest.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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