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

In one photograph, Basora-Gonzalez is shown handcuffed and weeping in a public parking lot. —Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 28 Mar. 2025

For the first time in 48 seasons of Survivor, Jeff Probst wept some tears about the connection that was happening on the beach. —Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 27 Mar. 2025

The surrounding idyllic landscape is graced with mature magnolias, weeping beech, dogwood and other plantings. —R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025

In court, the mother of the infant boy, Alexa Anderson, sat a few feet from Williams and quietly wept through the proceedings. —Ronan Farrow, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2025

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

Rhymes for weep

• beep
• cheap
• creep
• deep
• heap
• jeep
• keep
• leap
• peep
• reap
• seep
• sheep

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