crying with laughter

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "crying with laughter" is a correct and usable expression in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation in which someone is laughing very hard, perhaps to the point that they start crying. For example: "When I heard his hilarious joke, I was crying with laughter!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Lifestyle

Arts & Entertainment

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

Crying with laughter.

The New York Times

I was crying with laughter.

The New York Times - Books

Crying With Laughter Scottish indie thriller.

The Guardian - Film

I was crying with laughter before the film even started.

The Guardian - Film

Her brother John, however, "was crying with laughter".

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Certainly, Davidson had many in his first-night crowd crying with laughter.

The Guardian

Anything that creates the joy that is literally crying with laughter.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

It uses the language of Twitter -- the crying-with-laughter and skull emoji can often speak louder than words -- and the restrictions of the length of each entry to build suspense and heighten the "Oh shit" quotient.

Huffington Post

The dancing lady had her moment, but is now a bit party-season-2014 party-season-2014 party-season-2014deemed word of the year.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I got up, padded down the hall and found him in the living room, crying -- with laughter -- while watching Laurel and Hardy.

Huffington Post

It was the emoji that is 'crying with laughter'.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair the phrase with adverbs like "literally", "almost" or "nearly" to modulate the intensity of the description.

Common error

Do not confuse this with "crying from laughter", which is occasionally used but less idiomatic. Ensure the context clearly establishes a humorous situation so readers do not mistake the "crying" for sadness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "crying with laughter" functions primarily as a participial phrase that describes a state of extreme emotional response. According to Ludwig AI and the provided examples, it often appears as a complement to the verb "to be" or as a resultative modifier following verbs like "had me" or "left them".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Lifestyle

20%

Arts & Entertainment

10%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Science

1%

Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "crying with laughter" is an exceptionally common and idiomatic way to describe extreme amusement in English. Ludwig data reveals its strong presence in high-quality journalism, particularly when describing reactions to comedy, embarrassing social situations or heartwarming anecdotes. It is notable for its connection to digital culture, as the "face with tears of joy" emoji—the most used emoji globally—is the direct visual counterpart to this phrase. While it leans towards a neutral or informal register, its usage is widely accepted across most types of writing except for the most rigid academic or technical papers. For writers looking for variety, alternatives like "<a href="/s/howling+with+laughter" target="_blank" rel="alternative">howling with laughter" or "<a href="/s/in+stitches" target="_blank" rel="alternative">in stitches" can offer different shades of meaning depending on whether the emphasis is on sound or physical sensation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

howling with laughter

Emphasizes the loud, vocal nature of the amusement rather than the visual aspect of tears.

weeping with laughter

A more poetic or dramatic synonym that maintains the water-related imagery.

in stitches

An idiomatic expression focusing on the physical pain or discomfort caused by laughing too hard.

doubled over with laughter

Describes the physical posture of someone laughing uncontrollably.

rolling on the floor laughing

A more hyperbolic and informal phrase, often abbreviated as ROFL in digital contexts.

convulsed with laughter

Suggests a more intense, almost involuntary physical reaction; slightly more formal.

roaring with laughter

Focuses on the deep, loud sound of the laughter, similar to a lion.

bursting with laughter

Highlights a sudden and explosive onset of amusement.

hysterical with laughter

Indicates a level of laughter that borders on losing emotional control.

creased with laughter

A British English variation referring to the lines or folds formed on the face while laughing.

FAQs

How to use "crying with laughter" in a sentence?

You can use it as a predicate or a modifier, for example: "The comedian was so funny that the entire audience was crying with laughter."

What can I say instead of "crying with laughter"?

Depending on the intensity, you might use alternatives like "<a href="/s/howling+with+laughter" target="_blank" rel="alternative">howling with laughter", "<a href="/s/in+stitches" target="_blank" rel="alternative">in stitches" or "<a href="/s/convulsed+with+laughter" target="_blank" rel="alternative">convulsed with laughter".

Is "crying with laughter" formal enough for an essay?

It is generally considered a neutral-to-informal expression. In highly academic writing, you might prefer "<a href="/s/unrestrained+amusement" target="_blank" rel="alternative">unrestrained amusement" or "<a href="/s/paroxysms+of+laughter" target="_blank" rel="alternative">paroxysms of laughter".

What is the difference between "crying with laughter" and "weeping with laughter"?

"<a href="/s/weeping+with+laughter" target="_blank" rel="alternative">weeping with laughter" is slightly more dramatic and less common in everyday speech compared to the standard phrase.