I think Terry and Angela are both right. While you can certainly wail and weep, and you can cry silently, I take the nuances of these words from their alternate meanings. To cry out is to make a loud noise, while a stone wall that exudes moisture (silently, of course) is said to weeping. There is also the way these are used in idioms: - My hearts weeps for him. (I feel a deeply profound sympathy and sadness for him.) - My hearts cries out to her. (I feel an overwhelming need to communicate some strong emotion to her.) - To "cry ones heart out" (to sob, wail, howl, and/or keen, bitterly and at great length) So, I'd say that "crying" is generally louder and more outwardly forceful, while weeping is more internal and perhaps even more heartfelt.

There's not much difference. The basic definition of each is "to shed tears." "Weep" emphasizes tears. "Cry" emphasizes the voice.

Hi Weep is a bit gentler and maybe a bit quieter as well. When someone is crying they are probably making a bit of a fuss. There was a song - While my Guitar Gently Weeps by Eric Clapton. Maybe weep is more poetical. The difference is subtle.

I would say something very different than Terry (sorry) You can weep loudly or gently. "Weeping" is deeper than "crying." Weeping comes with more intense emotion and it is more personal. "Crying" is with something sad, but not that bad.