CRYING

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does crying mean? 

• CRYING (noun)
  The noun CRYING has 1 sense:

1. the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)

  Familiarity information: CRYING used as a noun is very rare.

• CRYING (adjective)
  The adjective CRYING has 2 senses:

1. demanding attention

2. conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible

  Familiarity information: CRYING used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CRYING (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

crying; tears; weeping

Context example:

she was in tears

Hypernyms ("crying" is a kind of...):

activity; bodily function; bodily process; body process (an organic process that takes place in the body)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "crying"):

snivel; sniveling (whining in a tearful manner)

sob; sobbing (convulsive gasp made while weeping)

bawling; wailing (loud cries made while weeping)

Derivation:

cry (shed tears because of sadness, rage, or pain)

cry (bring into a particular state by crying)

• CRYING (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Demanding attention

Synonyms:

clamant; crying; exigent; insistent; instant

Context example:

an instant need

Similar:

imperative (requiring attention or action)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible

Synonyms:

crying; egregious; flagrant; glaring; gross; rank

Context example:

rank treachery

Similar:

conspicuous (obvious to the eye or mind)

 Context examples 

I could hear Peggotty crying softly on her side of the keyhole, as I was doing on mine, before she answered.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

It was Smoke’s unmistakable voice, crying from the masthead.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Each day, pursuing him and crying defiance at him, the lesson of the previous night was erased, and that night would have to be learned over again, to be as immediately forgotten.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Then the fellow in the stove thought that the doctor meant him, and full of terror, sprang out, crying: “That man knows everything!”

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

Some way it affected me much; I am crying when I think of him.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

He was crying with sheer rage and eagerness as he circled back and forth for a chance to spring in.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

Then she knew him, and flew up, crying joyfully... Oh my Teddy! Oh my Teddy!

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

"How do you know she is crying?" I interrupted. "You cannot see her face. Perhaps she is asleep."

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

Well, you have been crying, Miss Jane Eyre; can you tell me what about?

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

You should do it because you can't help yourself, because it's natural to you, because the man in you is crying out for heroic expression.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)