cry and weep share a recorded sense, so the question is not what they mean but which one fits. cry means “utter a sudden loud cry”. weep means “shed tears because of sadness, rage, or pain”. cry is the more common of the two in everyday English.
/ˈkɹaɪ/
1.v.utter a sudden loud cry
“she cried with pain when the doctor inserted the needle”
2.v.shed tears because of sadness, rage, or pain
“She cried bitterly when she heard the news of his death”
3.v.utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
“`I won!' he exclaimed”
/ˈwip/
1.v.shed tears because of sadness, rage, or pain
“She cried bitterly when she heard the news of his death”
| cry | weep | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈkɹaɪ/ | /ˈwip/ |
| Said | krahy | weep |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| Letters | 3 | 4 |
| Parts of speech | verb, noun | verb |
| Senses | 12 | 1 |
| How common | Core | Common |
| Synonyms | shout, shout out, call | cry |