teary

[ teer-ee ]

/ ˈtɪər i /

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See synonyms for teary on Thesaurus.com

adjective, tear·i·er, tear·i·est.

of or like tears.

tearful.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of teary

First recorded in 1325–75, teary is from the Middle English word tery.See tear¹, -y¹

OTHER WORDS FROM teary

tear·i·ly, adverbtear·i·ness, noun

Words nearby teary

tear sheet, tear shell, tearstain, tear-stained, tear strip, teary, teary-eyed, Teasdale, tease, teasel, teasel family

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use teary in a sentence

While the trailer gets a little saccharine, I think many of us can all admit we got a bit teary-eyed in those final days before graduation.
The 40 Most Anticipated Video Games of 2022|Eliana Dockterman|January 7, 2022|Time
I wanted us to share a teary smile as the shape on the ultrasound screen cohered into something familiar, something ours.
My Kids Can't Get Vaccinated Yet, and I'm Barely Keeping It Together|Katie Gutierrez|December 20, 2021|Time
It makes me teary-eyed thinking about it, because no one starts out saying, “I want to be violent.”
After 27 Years Behind Bars, This Trailblazing Prison Reform Advocate Is Now Home for the Holidays|Joel Castón|November 25, 2021|Time
The obituary for Peter Frenchy — whom you can find teary-eyedin a photo taken after renewing his wedding vows — described his participation in the project as the highlight of his life.
At the Smithsonian, a photographic portrait of East Baltimore, decades before the dawn of the selfie era|Kelsey Ables|August 26, 2021|Washington Post

You can see people getting teary-eyed because it has become part of the family.
‘Gearhead From Birth’ Marco Greywe, Who Keeps Iconic VW Camper Vans Running, Says His Industry ‘Is Booming Again’|Eben Shapiro|May 30, 2021|Time
In contrast, Boehner's leadership team filed into his ceremonial office and greeted the teary newly-elected Speaker with hugs.
Democrats Accidentally Save Boehner From Republican Coup|Ben Jacobs, Jackie Kucinich|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
A teary Osbourne said she now thought "WWJD—what would Joan do" when faced with a quandary.
Melissa Rivers: Life After Joan—A Funny, Moving Celebration on a Special 'Fashion Police'|Tim Teeman|September 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In a teary and emotional testimony, Rooney revealed that he had been abused by his stepson.
Mickey Rooney Was Hollywood’s Golden Age Showman|Lorenza Muñoz|April 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“It would be a shame not to at least try,” says a teary-eyed Tagg.
Inside ‘Mitt,’ Netflix’s All-Access Mitt Romney Documentary|Marlow Stern|January 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Teary-eyed, she hugged and kissed everybody, thanking them for helping her get back the land she loved.
Time of Death’s Nicole ‘Little’ Lencioni: Dying Is a Party of One|Nicole Lencioni|November 1, 2013|DAILY BEAST
"No; but I guess she'll suspect it, though," returned Cordelia, with a teary smile.
The Sunbridge Girls at Six Star Ranch|Eleanor H. (Eleanor Hodgman) Porter
The slipper landed on Jo's head and she responded by raising rather a teary face.
The Four Corners Abroad|Amy Ella Blanchard
That new woman can't write an obituary, and her teary tales sound like they were carved with a cold chisel.
Dawn O'Hara, The Girl Who Laughed|Edna Ferber
At the mention of this one woman stepped behind a tent screen and wept, wiping her teary face with a bird-skin.
North-Pole Voyages|Zachariah Atwell Mudge
Elsewhere in the house his teary-eyed sisters went softly and silently about their daily work.
Si Klegg, Book 4 (of 6)|John McElroy

British Dictionary definitions for teary

teary

/ (ˈtɪərɪ) /

adjective tearier or teariest

characterized by, covered with, or secreting tears

given to weeping; tearful

Derived forms of teary

tearily, adverbteariness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

teary

Origin of teary

OTHER WORDS FROM teary

Words nearby teary

Words related to teary

How to use teary in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for teary

Derived forms of teary