lots of tears

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lots of tears" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing an emotional situation where someone has cried many tears. For example: "When I heard the news, I couldn't help but shed lots of tears."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Lots of tears.

The New York Times

"There were lots of tears," he recalls.

Independent

There were tears – lots of tears.

The Guardian

"There will be lots of tears," she added.

The New York Times

I think there would be lots of tears.

The New York Times - Arts

"I actually remember him saying it: 'Climb!' And there was lots of tears and drama.

The New Yorker

There were lots of tears on stage that did not necessarily involve a lot of technique.

The New York Times

There were lots of tears, lots of shouting, lots of anger".

The New York Times

There had been "lots of tears and lots of hugging", she said.

The Guardian

"There were lots of tears and hugging," said charity founder Aneeta Prem.

The Guardian

She says it like it is – Shameless, she recalls, was "stressful, with lots of tears and fallings out.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "lots of tears" to describe situations where the emotional response is visible and abundant, such as during a sad movie or a heartfelt goodbye.

Common error

While "lots of tears" is acceptable in many contexts, consider using more formal alternatives like "profuse weeping" or "copious crying" in academic or professional writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lots of tears" functions as a noun phrase, where "lots" acts as a quantifier modifying the noun "tears". This phrase typically serves as the object of a verb, such as "there were" or "shed", to describe a situation involving significant crying. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Academia

6%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "lots of tears" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe significant crying. As Ludwig AI confirms, its primary function is to emphasize the intensity and abundance of tears, often reflecting strong emotions like sadness, joy, or grief. While the phrase is generally neutral in register, consider more formal alternatives in academic or professional settings. You'll find this phrase frequently used in News & Media. When aiming for variety, consider alternatives such as "a flood of tears" or "profuse weeping". Overall, "lots of tears" is a versatile phrase for vividly portraying emotional moments.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a flood of tears

This alternative suggests a large quantity of tears being released, similar to "lots of tears" but with a more dramatic effect.

many tears shed

This option uses "shed" to emphasize the act of crying, while maintaining a similar level of emotional intensity to "lots of tears".

copious crying

This alternative emphasizes the abundance of tears, similar to "lots of tears" but with a slightly more clinical or detached tone.

profuse weeping

This is a more formal way of describing heavy crying, implying a significant emotional response compared to "lots of tears".

a great deal of sorrow

This expresses the underlying emotion causing the tears, focusing on the sadness rather than the physical act of crying.

heartfelt sorrow

This emphasizes the sincerity and depth of the sadness, rather than just the quantity of tears.

much lamenting

This suggests a public or expressive display of grief, which is a more specific context than simply having "lots of tears".

intense grief

This focuses on the deep emotional pain, which may or may not manifest as tears but shares a similar root cause.

emotional outpouring

This describes a general release of strong emotions, of which tears can be a part, but it's broader in scope than "lots of tears".

a tearful experience

This option emphasizes the event that caused the crying, rather than the crying itself.

FAQs

What does "lots of tears" mean?

The phrase "lots of tears" simply means that someone is crying a great deal, usually due to sadness, grief, joy, or other strong emotions.

What can I say instead of "lots of tears"?

You can use alternatives like "a flood of tears", "profuse weeping", or "copious crying" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "lots of tears" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "lots of tears" might be considered informal. In formal writing, consider alternatives like "profuse weeping" or "copious crying".

Can "lots of tears" describe positive emotions?

Yes, while often associated with sadness, "lots of tears" can also describe crying due to positive emotions like joy, relief, or gratitude.