adjective
Common
crying
KREYE-ihng
Crying (adjective) means So urgent or serious that it clearly needs attention. Example: “There is a crying need for more affordable housing.”
adjective
1
So urgent or serious that it clearly needs attention.
"There is a crying need for more affordable housing."
"The old bridge is in crying need of repair before winter arrives."
"There was a crying shortage of nurses on the busy ward."
noun
1
The act of shedding tears or shouting out.
"The crying finally stopped once she was picked up and comforted."
"Their constant cryings kept us awake!"
"The crying from the next room woke everyone in the house."
"I could hear crying and shouting down the corridor."
How to use crying
Learner’s notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Plural
- cryings
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There is a _____ need for more affordable housing.
Etymology
Formed from cry and the suffix -ing.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for crying
See all rhymes for crying →Frequently asked questions
What does “crying” mean?
The word “crying” means so urgent or serious that it clearly needs attention. In plain terms, usually either the ongoing act of weeping, or, as an adjective, describing something so bad it demands action ("a crying shame").
How do you pronounce “crying”?
“Crying” is pronounced KREYE-ihng (/ˈkɹaɪ̯.ɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “crying” in a sentence?
Here is “crying” used in a sentence: “There is a crying need for more affordable housing.”
What is another word for “crying”?
Words with a similar meaning to “crying” include in tears, sobbing, sobful, tearful and weeping.
What is the opposite of “crying”?
The opposite of “crying” — its antonyms — are cheering, laughing, smiling, uncrying and untearful.
What part of speech is “crying”?
Depending on how it is used, “crying” can be an adjective and a noun.
Is “crying” a common word?
“Crying” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “crying” have?
“Crying” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: so urgent or serious that it clearly needs attention.
What is the difference between 'crying' as an adjective and 'crying' as a verb?
As a verb, crying means weeping or shedding tears. As an adjective, it has nothing to do with tears — it means so urgent or serious that it clearly demands attention, as in 'a crying need' or 'a crying shame.' The adjective is idiomatic and usually appears in these fixed phrases.
What does 'a crying need' mean?
A crying need is a need so pressing and obvious that it cannot be ignored. The phrase uses crying to mean urgent rather than tearful — for example, 'there is a crying need for more affordable housing.' It emphasizes that a problem is serious enough to demand immediate attention.
What is an example of 'crying' used as an adjective?
The most common examples are 'a crying shame' and 'a crying need.' Saying 'it's a crying shame' means something is genuinely regrettable and deserves notice, while 'a crying need' points to an urgent requirement. In both, crying intensifies the phrase to stress importance rather than describe weeping.
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