Burst into tears

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "burst into tears" is both correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to describe someone suddenly and uncontrollably starting to cry. Example: When she heard the sad news, she burst into tears and couldn't stop crying for several minutes.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I burst into tears.

The New York Times

He burst into tears.

The New York Times

Others burst into tears.

Independent

Everyone burst into tears".

The New York Times - Magazine

Children burst into tears.

The New York Times - Sports

Many burst into tears.

The New Yorker

We burst into tears.

The New York Times

Susan burst into tears.

The New Yorker

Her mother burst into tears.

The New Yorker

They both burst into tears.

The New York Times

She just burst into tears.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "burst into tears" to describe a sudden, involuntary onset of crying due to strong emotion. It's more impactful than simply saying someone "cried".

Common error

Avoid using "burst into tears" for mild sadness or simply feeling touched. It's reserved for situations involving significant emotional distress or overwhelming feelings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "burst into tears" functions as an idiomatic verb phrase, indicating a sudden and often uncontrollable expression of emotion. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and common usage in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The analysis reveals that "burst into tears" is a very common and grammatically correct idiomatic verb phrase used to describe a sudden outpouring of emotion, predominantly in news and media contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread acceptance, and the phrase effectively communicates intense feelings of sadness, grief, or overwhelming joy. While versatile, it's crucial to reserve it for situations where the emotional response is genuinely strong to avoid overstatement. Alternatives like "start crying suddenly" or "break down in tears" can provide nuanced variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Break down in tears

Suggests a loss of control leading to crying.

Start crying suddenly

Focuses on the initiation of crying with an emphasis on its abruptness.

Dissolve into tears

Implies a gradual transition into a state of crying, often associated with overwhelming emotion.

Give way to tears

Implies a yielding to an emotional impulse to cry.

Begin to weep uncontrollably

Highlights the lack of control over the act of crying.

Suddenly start sobbing

Emphasizes the audible aspect of crying, specifically sobbing.

Be overcome with emotion

Indicates that emotion is the cause for starting to cry.

Well up with tears

Suggests tears filling the eyes as a prelude to crying.

Fall apart emotionally

Describes a general emotional collapse that manifests as crying.

Get teary-eyed

Refers to the beginning stage of crying when eyes start watering.

FAQs

What does it mean to "burst into tears"?

To "burst into tears" means to suddenly and uncontrollably start crying, usually due to overwhelming emotion or distress.

What can I say instead of "burst into tears"?

You can use alternatives like "start crying suddenly", "break down in tears", or "dissolve into tears" depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "burst into tears" in formal writing?

While "burst into tears" is widely understood, it might be perceived as slightly informal for certain types of formal writing. Consider more neutral alternatives like "began to cry" or "was overcome with emotion" depending on the context.

How to use "burst into tears" in a sentence?

You can use "burst into tears" to describe someone's reaction to news or a situation, like "When she heard the news, she "burst into tears" and couldn't speak".