has been crying

USAGE SUMMARY

"has been crying" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It is a present perfect continuous verb form, used to describe an action that started in the past and is still continuing in the present. Example: "Mary has been crying for hours since she heard the sad news about her grandmother."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Of course the boy has been crying.

The New Yorker

"His mother has been crying all night.

Independent

The Seanad has been crying out for reform for decades.

The Guardian - Opinion

"My missus has been crying for three weeks".

The New Yorker

"The community has been crying out for statutory guidance".

The New York Times

She has been crying but she isn't ashamed.

The New Yorker

Instead of grieving for the families in Newtown, she has been crying for her grandparents.

The New York Times

Her face is red and she looks if as she has been crying.

The Guardian - Sport

For months, Doctors Without Borders — almost the lone group providing treatment services — has been crying out for help.

The New Yorker

Eve has the expression of a woman who has been crying and is filled with anguished remorse.

The New York Times - Arts

"Ryan gave him a super ride and he has been crying out for fast ground all year," O'Brien said.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "has been crying", ensure the context implies a continuous action that started in the past and is still relevant or ongoing. For example, "She has been crying all morning" indicates continued sadness.

Common error

Avoid using "has been crying" when referring to a single, completed instance of crying in the past. Instead, use the simple past tense: "She cried after hearing the news."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been crying" functions as a present perfect continuous verb phrase. Ludwig AI validates that it expresses an action that started in the past and continues into the present, emphasizing the duration of the crying.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "has been crying" is a common and grammatically sound present perfect continuous verb phrase used to describe an ongoing action of crying that started in the past and continues to the present. Ludwig AI confirms this grammatical correctness. Predominantly found in News & Media contexts, as demonstrated by Ludwig examples, it effectively conveys a person's emotional state, emphasizing the duration or continuous nature of their sadness. While alternatives like "was in tears" or "has been weeping" exist, "has been crying" remains a direct and widely understood way to express this emotional state.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been weeping

Replaces "crying" with "weeping", suggesting a more subdued form of crying while keeping the continuous aspect.

shed tears repeatedly

Highlights the repetitive nature of crying through the alternative term "shed tears".

cried consistently

Focuses on the consistency of the crying action, omitting the 'been' which indicates a continuous action from the past until now.

was in tears

Shifts the focus from the act of crying to the state of being tearful.

showed signs of crying

Focuses on the visible indications of having cried, rather than the action itself.

was grieving

Indicates a deeper level of sorrow, often associated with loss.

expressed sorrow

Replaces the physical act of crying with a more general expression of sadness.

has experienced grief

Focuses on the experience of grief as a cause for crying and sadness.

displayed sadness

Similar to 'expressed sorrow' but emphasizes the display of emotion rather than the expression.

is in mourning

Implies a formal period of grief, often with associated rituals.

FAQs

How can I use "has been crying" in a sentence?

Use "has been crying" to describe an action of crying that started in the past and is still happening or has just finished. For example, "The baby "has been crying" for an hour, I think he's hungry".

What are some alternatives to saying "has been crying"?

You can use alternatives such as "has been weeping", "was in tears", or "showed signs of crying" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "has been crying"?

Yes, "has been crying" is grammatically correct. It is the present perfect continuous tense of the verb "cry", used to describe an action that began in the past and continues to the present.

What's the difference between "has cried" and "has been crying"?

"Has cried" indicates a completed action with a result in the present, while ""has been crying"" indicates an action that started in the past and is continuing or has only recently stopped. For example, "She has cried about the movie" versus "She "has been crying" since she saw the movie".