# tears

/ˈtɛɹz/ (US)

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

## Senses

### 1. crying

noun · CEFR A2

the salty liquid that comes from your eyes when you are sad, happy, or hurt.

For teachers: the drops of salty liquid secreted by the lacrimal glands in the eyes, typically associated with strong emotion or irritation.

- She was in tears after hearing the beautiful music at the wedding.
- The child's eyes filled with tears as he explained how he had lost his favourite toy in the park.

Usage: Commonly used in the phrase 'in tears' to mean crying.

## Examples

- She wiped the tears from her face after the movie.
- The child was in tears after falling off his bike, but he stopped crying once his mother arrived.
- The protagonist's eyes filled with tears as he stood on the platform, watching the train pull away and realizing he might never return to his childhood home.

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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.