move to tears

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'move to tears' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when something is so powerfully moving or emotional that it brings a person to tears. For example: The song was so beautiful and poignant that it moved me to tears.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

This means they have even more power to nurture, delight and wound one another and, not incidentally, move to tears anyone who visits them.

The New York Times

I thought it was just me – I'm pretty easy to move to tears at the best of times, and I had a new baby six months ago.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Many were moved to tears.

The Guardian - Opinion

Turner is easily moved to tears.

The New Yorker

Some were moved to tears.

The Guardian - Music

I am moved to tears.

The Guardian

Some people were moved to tears".

The New York Times

We are both moved to tears.

The Guardian

LGBT rights activists were moved to tears.

The Guardian - Opinion

The jurors were repeatedly moved to tears.

The New York Times

Is he ever moved to tears?

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "move to tears" when you want to emphasize a profound emotional experience that results in crying. Ensure the context supports a genuine and impactful emotional response.

Common error

Avoid using "move to tears" to describe minor or insignificant emotional responses. This can diminish the phrase's impact and make your writing seem melodramatic. Reserve it for situations of genuine emotional depth.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "move to tears" functions as a verbal phrase that describes a strong emotional reaction. It indicates that something has caused someone to cry due to intense feelings, whether of sadness, joy, or another powerful emotion. Ludwig provides various examples where this phrase is used to describe such emotional experiences.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "move to tears" is a grammatically correct and emotionally evocative expression used to describe a profound emotional experience resulting in crying. Ludwig AI validates its usage. While not exceedingly common, it effectively conveys strong feelings in a neutral register, predominantly found in news and media contexts. Alternatives like "bring to tears" or "reduced to tears" offer similar nuances, and it's crucial to reserve the phrase for contexts where genuine emotional depth is present.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

bring to tears

Focuses on the action of causing tears, similar to "move to tears" but slightly more direct.

touched to tears

Similar to "stirred to tears", emphasizing the gentle yet impactful emotional touch that leads to tears.

reduced to tears

Implies a state of being brought to tears, highlighting the vulnerability or impact.

stirred to tears

Highlights the act of being emotionally stimulated or agitated to the point of crying.

moved to tears of joy

Specifies the emotion causing the tears, adding a positive connotation.

moved to weeping

Emphasizes a more intense emotional response involving sobbing or crying.

brought a tear to someone's eye

Describes a more subtle emotional response, where tears are present but not necessarily full-blown crying.

deeply affected

Indicates a profound emotional impact without explicitly mentioning tears.

emotionally touched

Suggests a gentle emotional impact that stirs feelings of warmth or tenderness.

filled with emotion

Implies a broader range of emotional responses, not necessarily limited to sadness or grief.

FAQs

How can I use "move to tears" in a sentence?

You can use "move to tears" to describe something that evokes a strong emotional response, causing someone to cry. For example, "The movie was so touching that it "moved me to tears"."

What are some alternatives to "move to tears"?

Some alternatives to "move to tears" include "bring to tears", "reduced to tears", or "deeply affected", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "moved to tears of joy"?

Yes, "moved to tears of joy" is a correct and common variation of the phrase, specifying that the tears are caused by happiness rather than sadness.

What is the difference between "moved to tears" and "touched to tears"?

"Moved to tears" generally implies a stronger emotional impact, while "touched to tears" suggests a more gentle or tender emotional response. Both phrases indicate that someone is brought to tears, but the intensity differs.