wept: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal to Neutral; poetic/literary register is common.
Quick answer
What does “wept” mean?
Past tense and past participle of the verb 'weep'.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Past tense and past participle of the verb 'weep'; to have shed tears, typically due to sadness or emotional pain.
To have shown profound grief, sorrow, or intense emotion through crying; can also imply lamenting or mourning over something.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Both varieties use the form 'wept'.
Connotations
Slightly more formal/literary in both varieties compared to 'cried'.
Frequency
More frequent in written English and literary contexts than in casual conversation in both UK and US English.
Grammar
How to Use “wept” in a Sentence
[Subject] + wept (intransitive)[Subject] + wept + for/over + [Object (reason/person)]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “wept” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The widow wept at the graveside.
- He wept for the loss of his beloved team.
- The nation wept for the victims of the tragedy.
American English
- She wept openly during the movie's sad ending.
- The child wept over his broken toy.
- The soldier wept with relief upon returning home.
adverb
British English
- N/A (No standard adverbial form derived from 'wept')
American English
- N/A (No standard adverbial form derived from 'wept')
adjective
British English
- The wept-over letter was stained with tears.
- A seldom-wept tragedy of the past.
American English
- Her wept-out eyes were red and puffy.
- A much-wept chapter in the family history.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Extremely rare; would be highly marked and indicate severe personal distress in a professional context.
Academic
Used in literary analysis, historical accounts, or psychological studies describing emotional responses.
Everyday
Used, but often in recounting significant emotional events (e.g., 'She wept at her daughter's wedding'). More common in narrative than casual chat.
Technical
Not applicable in most technical fields. Might appear in clinical psychology or neurology discussing emotional expression.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “wept”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “wept”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “wept”
- Using 'weeped' (incorrect) instead of 'wept'.
- Overusing 'wept' for any instance of crying instead of reserving it for deeper emotion.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is not overly formal, but it is more literary and carries a stronger emotional weight than the neutral 'cried'. It's perfectly acceptable in both writing and speech when describing deep sorrow.
The present tense is 'weep'. However, in modern English, 'cry' is far more common in everyday speech for the present action.
Yes, absolutely. It is commonly used with the phrase 'wept for joy' or 'wept with happiness', indicating tears caused by an overwhelming positive emotion.
No, 'weeped' is a common error. The correct past and past participle form of the irregular verb 'weep' is always 'wept'.
Past tense and past participle of the verb 'weep'.
Wept: in British English it is pronounced /wɛpt/, and in American English it is pronounced /wɛpt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “wept buckets”
- “wept like a baby”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Wept' is the past of 'weep'. 'Weep' sounds like 'deep', and 'wept' is a deep, emotional cry.
Conceptual Metaphor
SADNESS IS A FLUID (tears) CONTAINED IN THE BODY: "She wept her grief out."
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses 'wept' most appropriately?