I teared up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I teared up" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express that someone became emotional and started to cry or felt like crying, often in response to something touching or sad. Example: "During the movie's final scene, I teared up as the characters said their goodbyes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I teared up.

The Guardian - Film

I teared up reading the comments.

The Guardian

That was it: I teared up.

The New Yorker

"I teared up the whole time".

The New York Times

"But I teared up and couldn't finish".

The New York Times

"But I teared up out there.

The New Yorker

I teared up at the salad spinner story.

The Washington Post

I admit it, I teared up a bit.

The Guardian - Opinion

"I teared up a couple of times," she admitted.

The New York Times

I teared up when my gynecologist said she was sending me to a breast surgeon.

The New York Times - Health

I laughed out loud and I teared up while reading this novel.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I teared up" to express a genuine emotional response in personal narratives or reflective writing. It's suitable for conveying feelings of sadness, joy, or sentimentality. Be mindful of overusing it, as it can lose its impact if used too frequently.

Common error

Avoid shifting tenses within the same sentence when describing the emotional experience. For example, instead of saying "I teared up, and then I am feeling sad", maintain consistency by saying "I teared up, and then I felt sad".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I teared up" functions as an intransitive verb phrase, describing a personal emotional reaction. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, with numerous examples showing its use in expressing sadness, sentimentality, or being deeply moved.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I teared up" is a commonly used and grammatically sound phrase to express a personal emotional response, often associated with sadness or sentimentality. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase appears frequently in news and media sources, highlighting its widespread acceptance. While alternative phrases exist, such as "I became tearful" or "I got emotional", "I teared up" offers a direct and relatable way to convey a moment of vulnerability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I became tearful

Focuses more on the physical sensation of tears forming.

I got emotional

A more general term for experiencing strong feelings.

I started to cry

Emphasizes the act of crying itself.

Tears welled up in my eyes

Describes the physical sensation of tears gathering.

I almost cried

Indicates a near crying experience.

I was on the verge of tears

Highlights the imminence of crying.

I felt a lump in my throat

Describes the physical sensation associated with sadness.

I was deeply moved

Focuses on the emotional impact rather than the physical response.

I choked up

Highlights the difficulty in speaking due to emotion.

I felt a pang of emotion

Emphasizes a sudden, sharp emotional feeling.

FAQs

What does it mean to say "I teared up"?

Saying "I teared up" means that you became emotional and your eyes started to fill with tears, usually because of sadness, sentimentality, or strong emotion.

What's a more formal way to say "I teared up"?

More formal alternatives to "I teared up" include "I became tearful" or "I experienced a strong emotional reaction". These phrases are suitable for professional or academic contexts.

Is it correct to say "I teared up"?

Yes, "I teared up" is a perfectly correct and commonly used expression in English to describe a feeling of sadness or being moved to tears. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely accepted.

What can I say instead of "I teared up" if I want to emphasize the physical sensation?

You can use phrases like "Tears welled up in my eyes" or "I felt a lump in my throat" to emphasize the physical sensations associated with the emotional response. Consider also alternatives like "I got emotional" or "I started to cry".