# sobbing

/ˈsɑbɪŋ/ (US) · /sˈɒbɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sobbing
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. the act of crying

noun · CEFR B2

the sound or action of crying loudly while taking short, gasping breaths.

For teachers: the act or sound of weeping convulsively, characterised by short, gasping breaths and vocalised distress.

- The child's loud sobbing finally stopped after his mother gave him a hug.
- The muffled sound of sobbing echoed through the hallway, indicating that someone in the apartment was deeply distressed.

Usage: Often used as an uncountable noun to describe the general sound, or as a gerund.

### 3. describing a sound

adjective · CEFR C1 · Literary

used to describe a person or a sound that is full of crying.

For teachers: functioning as an attributive adjective to describe a person or sound characterized by convulsive weeping.

- He spoke in a sobbing voice as he told the sad news.
- The film ended with the sobbing breaths of the protagonist, leaving the audience in a state of somber reflection.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun it modifies.

## Examples

- Her loud sobbing could be heard from the next room.
- The child's quiet sobbing eventually stopped once his mother arrived to comfort him.
- The silence of the funeral was broken only by the rhythmic sobbing of the bereaved family in the front row.

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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.