1. The process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
   "I hate to hear the crying of a child";
   - weeping

1. Conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible
   "a crying shame";
   - egregious, flagrant, glaring, gross, rank
    
2. Demanding attention
   "a crying need";
   - clamant, exigent, insistent, instant

1. Shed tears because of sadness, rage, or pain
   "She cried bitterly when she heard the news of his death";
   - weep
    
2. Utter a sudden loud cry
   "she cried with pain when the doctor inserted the needle";
   - shout, shout out, call, yell, scream, holler [informal], hollo [non-standard], squall
    
3. Utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
   "‘Help!’ she cried"; "'I won!' he cried out";
   - exclaim, cry out, outcry, call out, shout
    
4. Utter a characteristic sound
   "The cat was crying"
    
5. Proclaim or announce in public
   "He cried his merchandise in the market square"; "before we had newspapers, a town crier would cry the news";
   - blazon out [archaic]
    
6. Demand immediate action
   "This situation is crying for attention"
    
7. Bring into a particular state by crying
   "The little boy cried himself to sleep"

Derived forms: cryings

See also: conspicuous, imperative

Type of: activity, alter, announce, bodily function, bodily process, body process, change, denote, emit, express, express emotion, express feelings, give tongue to, let loose, let out, modify, need, require, utter, verbalise [Brit], verbalize, want

Antonym: express mirth

Encyclopedia: Crying, Waiting, Hoping