# wept

/ˈwɛpt/ (US) · /wˈɛpt/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/wept
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

the past tense of weep, which means to cry because you are very sad.

For teachers: the past tense and past participle of 'weep'; describes the act of shedding tears, typically as an expression of deep sorrow or grief.

## Examples

- She sat by the window and wept quietly.
- The crowd wept openly as the national anthem played during the memorial service for the fallen soldiers.
- Having lost everything in the fire, the old man sat upon the charred remains of his porch and wept for the memories that could never be replaced.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He weeped when he heard the news." but "He wept when he heard the news." — 'Weep' is an irregular verb; the past tense is 'wept', not 'weeped'.

## Usage notes

- Often used in literary or formal contexts rather than everyday conversation; functions as an intransitive verb but can take a cognate object (e.g., 'wept bitter tears').

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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.