# crying

/ˈkɹaɪɪŋ/ (US) · /kɹˈaɪɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/crying
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 3. needing urgent action

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

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

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

- The lack of clean water in the village is a crying shame.
- The report highlighted a crying need for reform in the healthcare system to address the rising costs of emergency treatment.

### 4. deserving blame

adjective · CEFR C2 · Literary · Formal

very bad and deserving of strong criticism.

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

- It is a crying injustice that the innocent man was kept in prison for so long.
- The historian described the destruction of the ancient library as a crying act of cultural vandalism that could never be undone.

## Examples

- The sound of crying came from the nursery.
- After the long and stressful day, she found that a bit of crying actually helped her feel much better.
- Psychologists suggest that crying serves as a crucial self-soothing mechanism, allowing the body to release stress hormones and restore emotional equilibrium after a traumatic event.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.