What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
cry
Example
She couldn't help but cry when she heard the news. [cry: verb]
Example
The baby's cry woke me up in the middle of the night. [cry: noun]
Example
The protesters cried out for justice. [cried: past tense]
weep
Example
She wept silently as she watched the sunset. [wept: past tense]
Example
The family wept at the funeral of their loved one. [weep: verb]
Example
The poet wrote about the weeping willow tree. [weeping: gerund or present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Cry is more commonly used than weep in everyday language, as it covers a wider range of emotions and contexts. Weep is more formal and literary, and is often used to describe a deeper and more profound sadness or grief.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between cry and weep?
Weep is more formal and literary than cry, which is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
