adjective

crying

KREYE-ihng

adjective

So urgent or serious that it clearly needs attention.

"There is a crying need for more affordable housing."

noun

The act of shedding tears or shouting out.

"The crying finally stopped once she was picked up and comforted."

How to Use Crying

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishUsually either the ongoing act of weeping, or, as an adjective, describing something so bad it demands action ("a crying shame").

Common pairings

crying shame crying need

cryings plural

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Can you complete this real example?

There is a _____ need for more affordable housing.

in tears sobbing sobful tearful weeping

cheering laughing smiling uncrying untearful unweeping

laughing smiling tearful weeping sobbing cheering

Ying dying tying lying vying saying flying trying paying laying buying baying

in tears sobbing sobful tearful weeping cheering laughing smiling uncrying untearful unweeping