i literally cried

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I literally cried" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a strong emotional reaction, often in a humorous or exaggerated context. Example: "When I saw the ending of that movie, I literally cried; it was so touching."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

"I literally cried over it," she said.

The New York Times

When I left, I literally cried because I didn't want to leave that building.

The New York Times - Travel

"I woke up in the morning, and when I looked at what time it was and I had nothing to do, I literally cried," she recalled.

The New York Times

"I haven't been able to go because of my training schedule and I literally cried when I found out that it wasn't possible".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I did a job once where I felt like the oldest person in the make-up trailer, and I literally cried for two days afterwards.

The Guardian

"I literally cried the day I traded him," Krause, the Bulls' general manager, said of Oakley, the lunch-pail player he traded for on draft day in 1985 and watched sprout into a power forward before he was sent to the Knicks a decade ago.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

As a board-certified neurologist who has cared for and as the principle investigator of grant-funded research with ALS patients, I have literally cried with my patients and their families when I had to give them the devastating news that they had Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), or "Lou Gehrig's Disease".

Huffington Post

"When I was filming, I was literally crying or laughing.

The New York Times

"After four days of my wedding, I was literally crying, 'Oh, I have to stay with this man for all my life, till death do us part?

Huffington Post

I was literally crying holding a Slurpee and I literally could not think of anything more awful.

Huffington Post

I won a gold medal at the team competition and I would go back to my room and see everything [online], and I would literally cry my eyes out.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "i literally cried" to emphasize a strong emotional reaction, but be mindful of overusing "literally" in informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "literally" to mean "figuratively" or as a general intensifier, as this can dilute the impact of your writing and confuse your audience. Instead, reserve it for situations where you genuinely mean something happened in a precise, non-metaphorical sense.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "i literally cried" functions as an expression of strong emotion, typically used in narrative or personal accounts to convey the intensity of a feeling or experience. It underscores the speaker's reaction, indicating they were moved to tears.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "i literally cried" is a common expression used to emphasize a strong emotional reaction, indicating that the speaker was moved to tears. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage, particularly in news and media. While it's a valid way to convey intense emotion, writers should be mindful of potential misuse of "literally" and consider alternative phrases like "i actually cried" or "i genuinely cried" for nuanced expression. Be cautious about using "literally" as a mere intensifier, and reserve it for genuine instances of crying.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

i couldn't help but cry

Suggests an involuntary emotional response, indicating a strong trigger.

i actually cried

Replaces "literally" with "actually", reducing the emphasis on the exactness of the crying.

i genuinely cried

Substitutes "literally" with "genuinely", highlighting the sincerity of the emotional response.

i really cried

Uses "really" instead of "literally" to express a strong emotional reaction.

i truly cried

Employs "truly" to emphasize the authenticity of the emotional display.

i practically cried

Indicates that the person almost cried but didn't fully express the emotion.

i almost cried

Similar to "practically cried", this phrase suggests a near-cry experience.

tears welled up in my eyes

Describes the physical sensation of tears forming, suggesting imminent crying.

i was on the verge of tears

Indicates being close to crying, emphasizing the suppressed emotion.

i was deeply moved

Expresses a strong emotional response without explicitly mentioning crying.

FAQs

What does "i literally cried" mean?

The phrase "i literally cried" means that the speaker experienced such a strong emotion that they actually shed tears. It's often used to emphasize the intensity of the feeling.

Is it correct to say "i literally cried"?

Yes, it is correct to say "i literally cried" as long as you actually shed tears due to the emotion you experienced. The word "literally" emphasizes the truthfulness of the statement.

What can I say instead of "i literally cried"?

You can use alternatives like "i actually cried", "i genuinely cried", or "i couldn't help but cry" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "i literally cried"?

It's appropriate to use "i literally cried" when you want to emphasize the emotional impact of an experience and convey that you were moved to tears. Ensure the context aligns with such intensity.