What does "crying" mean?

1. (needing urgent action) used to describe a problem that is so bad it needs immediate attention. 2. (deserving blame) very bad and deserving of strong criticism.

crying

adj.

US //ˈkɹaɪɪŋ// UK //kɹˈaɪɪŋ// cry·ing

1 needing urgent action (adj.)
C1 Advanced Formal

used to describe a problem that is so bad it needs immediate attention.

describing a situation that demands immediate attention or action due to its urgent or deplorable nature. Usually precedes the noun.

Example

The lack of clean water in the village is a crying shame.

Example

The report highlighted a crying need for reform in the healthcare system to address the rising costs of emergency treatment.
- minor
- trivial
2 deserving blame (adj.)
C2 Proficiency Literary Formal

very bad and deserving of strong criticism.

deserving of strong rebuke or censure; used to emphasize how deplorable a situation is.

Example

It is a crying injustice that the innocent man was kept in prison for so long.

Example

The historian described the destruction of the ancient library as a crying act of cultural vandalism that could never be undone.
- admirable
- praiseworthy

Origin

From cry + -ing.

Idioms2 entries