Word
teary
US/ˈtɪɹi/
UK/tˈiəɹi/
Definition
adj. having or showing tears. You use this to describe someone who is crying or something that makes you feel very emotional.
adj. characterised by or showing tears; causing or resulting in emotional distress. Often used to describe a person's eyes or a situation that evokes strong feelings.
Examples
“She had a teary goodbye with her friends.”
“The old man gave a teary speech at the funeral, struggling to hold back his emotions.”
“The documentary was so moving that the audience left the theater with teary eyes, deeply affected by the stories of the families affected by the conflict.”
Examples
simple
“She had a teary goodbye with her friends.”
contextual
“The old man gave a teary speech at the funeral, struggling to hold back his emotions.”
complex
“The documentary was so moving that the audience left the theater with teary eyes, deeply affected by the stories of the families affected by the conflict.”
Etymology
From Middle English tery; equivalent to tear + -y.
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
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/teary