crying profusely

USAGE SUMMARY

"crying profusely" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone sobbing loudly and heavily. For example: "When they heard the news, the family members all broke down, crying profusely."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

She realized the intensity of its impact on him when he once started crying profusely while watching the film 'Tamas' and his attachment to his house in Patel Nagar, highlighting his fear of yet another dislocation.

Harvard University

I remember crying profusely, not because I was sad to see it go, but because I was so furious that he was such a bully.

HuffPost

According to a statement by West at the 2013 Winter Jam (March 23 , 2013: at a 1997 Steven Curtis Chapman concert at the Assembly Hall in Champaign, Urbana, West has said that he was crying profusely, making his friends ask him what was wrong.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Timid and shy, she cried profusely the first time she went to S Paulo.

The New York Times

She cried profusely the first day she wore it because halfway through the day she wanted to take it off, but felt trapped.

The New York Times

I cried profusely," he said.

Huffington Post

I had read it and cried profusely.

Huffington Post

When I returned to the dormitory I cried profusely, consoled by my room-mate.

HuffPost

His dad, on the other hand, sweats and cries profusely, gasping for air, looking to the heavens for a release that just doesn't come.

Vice

The teachers we see at school are jokes: one, a young woman who teaches social sciences, and whom the students address by her first name, cries profusely as a student reads a paper on grief; another thinks of himself as the cool teacher and, accordingly, acts like an ass.

The New Yorker

"I'm honored to send the old man off in this way, and all I have to do is not cry as profusely as I know I'm going to," he told The Times shortly before the ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "crying profusely" to vividly describe intense sorrow, grief, or overwhelming emotion. It's stronger than "crying a lot" and adds emotional depth to your writing.

Common error

While effective, avoid using "crying profusely" in highly formal or technical writing where a more clinical or detached tone is preferred. Opt for a more neutral description of emotional response.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "crying profusely" functions as a verb phrase, specifically a present participle verb ("crying") modified by an adverb ("profusely"). Ludwig AI indicates it's grammatically correct and describes intense sobbing. It acts to vividly describe someone expressing extreme sadness or emotion.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "crying profusely" is a grammatically correct and vivid phrase used to depict intense sobbing due to overwhelming emotion. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While generally neutral in register, it is best suited for contexts where emotional depth is desired, like in news reports, fiction, and personal narratives, rather than highly formal or technical writing. The most frequent contexts are news and media, academia and wiki. Consider alternatives like "weeping copiously" or "sobbing uncontrollably" for nuanced expression. Remember to avoid overuse in formal contexts to maintain an appropriate tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

weeping copiously

Emphasizes the large amount of tears shed.

sobbing uncontrollably

Highlights the lack of control over the crying.

bawling loudly

Focuses on the noisy aspect of crying.

shedding tears profusely

More verbose and emphasizes the act of shedding tears.

crying intensely

Highlights the intensity of the emotional experience.

bursting into tears

Describes the sudden onset of crying.

losing composure in tears

Highlights the loss of emotional control and the emergence of tears.

greatly distressed

More general phrase indicating emotional distress, which may or may not involve crying.

tears streaming down face

Focuses on the physical manifestation of crying.

inconsolable crying

Emphasizes the inability to be comforted.

FAQs

How can I use "crying profusely" in a sentence?

You can use "crying profusely" to describe someone who is sobbing heavily due to intense emotion. For example, "After hearing the news, she started "crying profusely"".

What are some alternatives to "crying profusely"?

Alternatives include "weeping copiously", "sobbing uncontrollably", or "bawling loudly". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "crying profusely" formal or informal?

"Crying profusely" is generally considered a neutral expression, suitable for most contexts. However, very formal or technical writing might benefit from a more detached description of emotion.

What does "crying profusely" emphasize?

"Crying profusely" emphasizes the intensity and abundance of tears shed. It suggests a strong emotional reaction characterized by heavy sobbing.