eyes welling

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "eyes welling" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It describes a person's eyes filling up with tears, usually a sign of strong emotion such as sadness or happiness. Example: As she watched the emotional reunion between the long-lost siblings, she felt her eyes welling with tears.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Literature

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Her eyes welling up with tears?

The New York Times - Health

Anne Church, her eyes welling with tears.

The New York Times

"Always," Torrealba said, his eyes welling up.

The New York Times - Sports

"Where do I begin?"  she said, her eyes welling up.

The New York Times

"So sad," he said, eyes welling with tears.

The New York Times - Sports

She sensed her cheeks burning and her eyes welling up.

The New Yorker

"You shouldn't have told me to do that!" he called, his eyes welling with tears.

The New York Times

His eyes welling again, he walked away, leaving behind 26 years with the Buffalo Sabres.

The New York Times - Sports

"I tried very hard," the juror, Brian Ferrari, told the family, his eyes welling up.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

I'm the guy," he said repeatedly, his eyes welling up with tears as he discussed the case.

The New York Times

"Every officer is angry and sad," Khalidi said, his eyes welling with tears.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "eyes welling" to convey a character's or subject's emotional state subtly, indicating a strong feeling without explicitly stating it.

Common error

Avoid using "eyes welling" excessively in overly dramatic or sentimental scenes, as it can come across as cliché. Opt for more nuanced descriptions of emotion to maintain authenticity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "eyes welling" functions as a descriptive verb phrase, often acting as part of a larger clause to depict a character's emotional state. It's a visual cue indicating the onset of tears, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Sports

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Science

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "eyes welling" is a grammatically sound and frequently used verb phrase that effectively communicates the onset of tears, indicative of a strong emotional response. As indicated by Ludwig, its usage spans across various contexts, primarily in news and media, and sports reporting, showcasing its versatility in depicting subtle emotional cues. While generally neutral in register, it's best to avoid overuse in overly sentimental contexts to maintain writing integrity. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and common in written English, making it a reliable choice for conveying emotion in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tears brimming

Focuses on the fullness of tears, almost overflowing.

eyes filling with tears

Describes the gradual accumulation of tears.

on the verge of tears

Highlights the proximity to crying.

close to tears

Similar to "on the verge", indicating nearness to crying.

eyes moistening

Emphasizes the initial stage of tear formation.

tears gathering

Focuses on the collection of tears in the eyes.

becoming tearful

Describes the process of becoming filled with tears.

fighting back tears

Highlights the effort to suppress crying.

eyes glistening with tears

Emphasizes the reflective quality of tears forming.

emotion welling up

Shifts the focus to the internal emotion causing the tears.

FAQs

How can I use "eyes welling" in a sentence?

Use "eyes welling" to describe the physical manifestation of emotion, typically sadness or happiness, where tears are beginning to form. For example, "As she listened to the heartfelt speech, her "eyes welling" with tears".

What can I say instead of "eyes welling"?

You can use alternatives like "tears brimming", "eyes filling with tears", or "on the verge of tears" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to say "eyes welling with tears" or simply "eyes welling"?

"Eyes welling" is sufficient and more concise. While "eyes welling with tears" is grammatically correct, it can be considered redundant as welling already implies the presence of tears. The simpler phrasing is often preferred for its directness.

What's the difference between "eyes welling" and "close to tears"?

"Eyes welling" describes the actual physical process of tears forming in the eyes, while "close to tears" indicates a state of being emotionally near to crying but not necessarily showing physical signs yet.