# tearful

/ˈtɪɹfəɫ/ (US) · /tˈiəfəl/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tearful
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

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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.