# emotional

/ˈiˌmoʊʃənəɫ/ (US) · /ɪmˈəʊʃənəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/emotional
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. relating to feelings

adjective · CEFR B1

relating to your feelings or the way you feel inside.

For teachers: pertaining to the emotions or the affective state of an individual.

- Moving to a new country can be a difficult emotional experience.
- The therapist focused on the patient's emotional well-being rather than just addressing the physical symptoms of stress.

### 2. showing strong feelings

adjective · CEFR B1

showing strong feelings, especially by crying or being very upset.

For teachers: readily displaying or affected by intense emotion; often used to describe a person who is easily moved to tears.

- He became very emotional when he talked about his late grandfather.
- The award ceremony was an emotional occasion, with several winners struggling to finish their speeches through tears of joy.

### 3. not logical

adjective · CEFR B2

based on feelings rather than on facts or clear thinking.

For teachers: actuated or dominated by emotion rather than reason or logic.

- It was an emotional decision, but she knew it wasn't the most practical one.
- The debate shifted from a technical analysis of the budget to a highly emotional argument about social values.

### 4. an emotional person

noun · CEFR C2 · Informal

a person who is very sensitive or shows their feelings a lot.

For teachers: a person characterized by strong or easily expressed emotions.

- She has always been an emotional, reacting to every small change in the weather.
- The author categorises his characters into 'logicals' and 'emotionals' to highlight the friction in their decision-making processes.

Usage: This noun use is rare and typically found in psychological or informal contexts.

## Examples

- She gets very emotional when she watches sad movies.
- The retirement party was an emotional event, with many colleagues sharing fond memories and shedding a few tears.
- The lawyer's closing argument was less a recitation of the facts than an emotional appeal to the jury's sense of justice, ultimately securing an unexpected acquittal.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.