Word
tearful
Phoneticstear·ful, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtɪɹfəɫ/
UK/tˈiəfəl/
Definition
adj. feeling or showing strong sadness, often with tears. You use this to describe someone who is crying or a situation that makes you feel very emotional.
adj. characterised by or resulting in the shedding of tears; expressing or causing intense emotion, typically sadness.
Examples
“She gave a tearful goodbye to her friends.”
“The tearful reunion between the two brothers after years of silence was a moving moment for everyone at the party.”
“The documentary's tearful portrayal of the family's struggle to rebuild their lives after the flood left many viewers in a state of quiet reflection.”
Examples
simple
“She gave a tearful goodbye to her friends.”
contextual
“The tearful reunion between the two brothers after years of silence was a moving moment for everyone at the party.”
complex
“The documentary's tearful portrayal of the family's struggle to rebuild their lives after the flood left many viewers in a state of quiet reflection.”
Etymology
From tear + -ful.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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