Crossword Genius

We're told the writer cried, getting looked at (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

eyeballed

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'looked at' is the definition.
(eyeball can mean to stare at)

'we're told the writer cried' is the wordplay.
'we're told' shows a homophone (sound like).
'the writer' becomes 'I' (the person who is writing these clues).
'cried' becomes 'balled' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'i' is a homophone of 'eye'.
'eye'+'balled'='EYEBALLED'

'getting' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for eyeballed that I've seen before include "Stared at" , "Watched" , "confronted" , "looked at" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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