teary
Americanadjective
-
characterized by, covered with, or secreting tears
-
given to weeping; tearful
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of teary
First recorded in 1325–75, teary is from the Middle English word tery. See tear 1, -y 1
Explanation
When you're teary, your eyes fill with tears and you may even cry. Sad movies can make you teary, and so can chopping onions. If you're so sentimental that tragic stories and sentimental songs bring you to the edge of weeping, you can say they make you teary. You might say a teary farewell to your camp friends at the end of the summer or get teary at the thought of the dog you had when you were little. Pitiful, poignant, and sad things can all make you teary.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Teary Akie Abe said she could not stop crying since the morning thinking about the day a year ago.
From Washington Times • Jul. 8, 2023
Teary eyed, the Clarksburg players, coaches and fans were honoring the four students — Jacob Dennis, Cary Greene, Patrick Shifflett and John DeReggi — who died last school year.
From Washington Post • Sep. 5, 2016
Teary eyed, Slavik clutched his mother tightly, before reaching for his father, the chief architect of his extraordinary release.
From Newsweek • Feb. 10, 2015
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
