What is the past tense of "weep"?

The past simple of "weep" is "wept". The baby weeps when hungry.

What is a common mistake with "weep"?

Wrong: "He weeped at the movie". Correct: "He wept at the movie". weep is irregular; use wept in past tense, not weeped

Conjugation of "Weep" — All Forms, Examples, and Usage

Q: What is the past participle of "weep"?

The past participle of "weep" is "wept". Use it after have/has/had: "I have wept".

Q: Is "weep" regular or irregular?

"Weep" is an irregular English verb. Pattern: weep > wept > wept.

Q: How do you pronounce "weep"?

/wiːp/ — Long 'ee' vowel /iː/ followed by /p/ - like steep but with W at start

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All 12 Tenses of "Weep"

Quick reference table — every tense form of "weep" with the first-person example and a link to the grammar guide for that tense.

Tense	Example (I)	Quick rule
Simple Present	`I weep`	Used for habits, facts, routines, and permanent situations. Full rule →
Simple Past	`I weeped`	Used for completed actions at a specific time in the past. Full rule →
Simple Future	`I will weep`	Used for predictions, decisions made at the moment, and promises. Full rule →
Present Continuous	`I am weeping`	Used for actions happening right now or temporary situations. Full rule →
Past Continuous	`I was weeping`	Used for actions in progress at a specific moment in the past. Full rule →
Future Continuous	`I will be weeping`	Used for actions that will be in progress at a specific future time. Full rule →
Present Perfect	`I have weeped`	Used for past actions with present relevance, life experiences, or unfinished situations. Full rule →
Past Perfect	`I had weeped`	Used for an action that was completed before another past action. Full rule →
Future Perfect	`I will have weeped`	Used for an action that will be completed before a specific future time. Full rule →
Present Perfect Continuous	`I have been weeping`	Used for actions that started in the past and continue now, with focus on duration. Full rule →
Past Perfect Continuous	`I had been weeping`	Used for ongoing actions in the past that continued up to another past moment. Full rule →
Future Perfect Continuous	`I will have been weeping`	Used for actions that will have been ongoing up until a specific future time. Full rule →

Past Tense of "Weep" — Wept

The past simple of "weep" is "wept". Use it for completed actions at a specific past time. Because "weep" is irregular, "wept" is not formed by adding -ed — you have to memorize this form. See our simple past tense guide for a deeper explanation of the simple past.

She wept over the loss of her pet. B1
Audiences wept during the poignant final scene. B2

Past Participle of "Weep" — Wept

The past participle of "weep" is "wept". Use it after "have/has/had" for the perfect tenses ("I have wept"), and after "be" for passive constructions ("It was wept"). Because "weep" is irregular, "wept" is not the same as the past simple — students often confuse the two forms.

She wept over the loss of her pet. B1
Audiences wept during the poignant final scene. B2

Is "Weep" Regular or Irregular?

"Weep" is an irregular English verb. Its principal parts are: base form "weep", past simple "wept", and past participle "wept". The 3rd-person singular present is "weeps" and the present participle/gerund is "weeping". Conjugation pattern: weep > wept > wept.

Conjugation pattern: weep > wept > wept

How to Pronounce "Weep" and Its Forms

Weep: /wiːp/ — Stress pattern: O

Long 'ee' vowel /iː/ followed by /p/ - like steep but with W at start

How to Use "Weep" — Common Grammar Patterns

Use weep for quiet, dignified crying; more formal than cry in written or literary contexts

V + for + noun: weep for joy
V + over + noun: weep over loss
be + weeping (present continuous)

Example Sentences with "Weep" in Different Tenses

Simple Past: She wept over the loss of her pet. B1

Common Collocations with "Weep"

weep for joy
weep over loss
weep silently
weep with grief

When to Use "Weep" vs Similar Verbs

"weep" vs "cry"

Cry is general; weep is quieter, more dignified, and literary

Smart synonyms — when to use each one

cry — general term for tears
sob — with audible sounds
lament — express sorrow formally

Antonyms: laugh, celebrate

Common Mistakes with "Weep"

Wrong: She weep often.
Correct: She weeps often.
Add "s" to the verb when the subject is third-person singular (he/she/it).

Origin and Etymology of "Weep"

Old English wēpan, from Proto-Germanic *wōp-

Weep is more formal or literary than cry; often appears in poetry and emotional narratives

Other Forms of "Weep"

Noun: weeping

Conjugation Tables for "Weep"

Negative Forms

Simple present: I do not weep · He does not weep
Simple past: I did not weep · She did not weep
Present perfect: I have not wept · He has not wept

Question Forms

Simple present: Do you weep? · Does he weep?
Simple past: Did you weep?
Present perfect: Have you wept?

Passive Voice (where applicable)

Simple present passive: It is wept
Simple past passive: It was wept
Present perfect passive: It has been wept

Frequently Asked Questions About "Weep"

Is "weep" regular or irregular?: "weep" is an irregular verb. Its past simple is "weeped" and past participle is "weeped". You must memorize these forms.
What is the past tense of "weep"?: The simple past of "weep" is "weeped".
Are the past simple and past participle the same for "weep"?: Yes, for this irregular verb, both the past simple and past participle are "weeped".