teary

[teer-ee]

adjective

tearier, teariest 

1. of or like tears.

2. tearful.

teary

/ ˈtɪərɪ /

adjective

1. characterized by, covered with, or secreting tears

2. given to weeping; tearful

Other Word Forms

• tearily adverb
• teariness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of teary¹

First recorded in 1325–75, teary is from the Middle English word tery. See tear ¹, -y ¹

Example Sentences

The character has a scrap of backstory in a photo of his dead wife and kids, pathos that Tommila’s weary, teary blue eyes hit a little too hard.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Equally good is a long take that stays on Glinda’s teary face as, just behind her and out of focus, the Wizard and Morrible hatch an assassination plot involving a twister.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He may in fact still be in the Ray Dolby Ballroom, listening to people tell him giddy and sometimes teary stories of when they first saw him in a movie.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Learning of a layoff decision remotely prevents teary embraces in the office as workers emerge from conference rooms after receiving bad news, according to HR specialists.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He said he was "a bit teary" thinking about the impact it could have on families.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• mournful 
• poignant 
• sad 
• sorrowful 
• watery 
• weeping 
• weepy