crying

[ krahy-ing ]

adjective

1. demanding attention or remedy; critical; severe:

   a crying evil.

2. reprehensible; odious; notorious:

   a crying shame.

crying

/ ˈkraɪɪŋ /

adjective

1. prenominal notorious; lamentable (esp in the phrase crying shame )

Other Words From

• crying·ly adverb
• un·crying adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of crying¹

First recorded in 1300–50, crying is from the Middle English word cryenge. See cry, -ing ²

Example Sentences

The boy later called one of his friends, crying and upset, saying he had hit the driver and he "wasn't waking up".

From BBC

"I was shouting, crying, swearing, had this anger, and I didn't know why. They were concerned but I couldn't explain to them what it was."

From BBC

“Some students arrived at school truly upset & even crying only to be bullied later by their classmates,” she added.

From Los Angeles Times

McConville, a widow ripped from her home as her 10 crying children helplessly watch, personifies what happens when the battlefield extends into civilian neighborhoods.

From Salon

The face stuff was the thing I was most worried about, because when you have close up shots of a Lego minifig crying, is that going to be emotional?

From BBC