weep

verb

ˈwēp 

wept ˈwept  ; weeping

transitive verb

1

: to express deep sorrow for usually by shedding tears : bewail

weeping the sins and errors of his youth

—Edward Gibbon

2

: to pour forth (tears) from the eyes

3

: to exude (a fluid) slowly : ooze

a tree weeping sap

intransitive verb

1

: to express passion (such as grief) by shedding tears

2

a

: to give off or leak fluid slowly : ooze

b

of a fluid : to flow sluggishly or in drops

3

: to droop over : bend

Synonyms

• bleed
• exude
• ooze
• percolate
• seep
• strain
• sweat
• transude

Examples of weep in a Sentence

He wept at the news of her death.

She sat down and wept.

He wept bitter tears of disappointment.

The meringue will weep if you put it in the fridge.

Recent Examples on the Web

Meanwhile, downstairs the old woman has died and the old man weeps over her body. —Erik Kain, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024

Kim lets this scene play out uninterrupted, as the haenyeo weep uncontrollably at their parting and, perhaps, so much more. —Geoffrey Bunting, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2024

As colleagues detailed their experiences in traumatizing detail, Haj-Hassan began quietly weeping. —Andrew Cockburn, Harper's Magazine, 5 Sep. 2024

But Frank was more the scratchy handwriting type, prone to splotch—not one to weep, let alone for long. —Carlos Valladares, ARTnews.com, 4 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English wepen, from Old English wēpan; akin to Old High German wuoffan to weep, Serbian & Croatian vapiti to cry out

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing weep

• weep hole

Kids Definition

weep

verb

ˈwēp 

wept ˈwept  ; weeping

1

: to show emotion and especially sorrow by shedding tears : cry

2

: to give off liquid slowly or in drops : ooze

a tree weeping sap

weeper noun

Medical Definition

weep

verb

ˈwēp 

wept ˈwept  ; weeping

transitive verb

1

: to pour forth (tears) from the eyes

2

: to exude (a fluid) slowly

intransitive verb

1

: to shed tears

2

: to exude a serous fluid

a weeping burn