Weeping means crying, especially in a way that's slow, steady, and sorrowful. When someone weeps, tears flow down their cheeks, often accompanied by quiet sobs. You might weep at a funeral, or when saying goodbye to someone you love who's moving far away.

The word carries a quieter, more dignified feeling than bawling or sobbing. Picture someone sitting alone with tears streaming silently down their face, or a character in a novel weeping over a loss. People weep for sadness and grief, but sometimes also from overwhelming joy or relief.

Weeping can also describe something that appears to drip or hang down like tears. A weeping willow is a tree whose long, graceful branches droop toward the ground, looking almost like flowing tears or hair. Some statues seem to weep when rainwater runs down their faces. A wound might be described as weeping if fluid slowly seeps from it.

The past tense is wept: “She wept when her dog died.” When you see someone weeping, it usually means they're experiencing something deeply emotional, whether sorrow or unexpected happiness.