she teared up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "she teared up" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone becoming emotional and starting to cry or show signs of tears, often in response to a touching or sad situation. Example: "As she listened to the heartfelt speech, she teared up, feeling a wave of nostalgia wash over her."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

Asked if he is still alive, she teared up and gulped: "I don't know".

The New York Times

She teared up watching Kate McKinnon on "Saturday Night Live" singing Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah".

The New Yorker

She teared up, though, when discussing the film's inspiration, a grandfather involved with drugs for many decades.

The New York Times

She teared up as she told reporters, "Those of you who know me here would know that I never meant to hurt the city that I love".

The New York Times

I last saw her the day my mother passed away, and she teared up when she saw me: 'You look just like her.' I broke down.

Independent

A few moments later, as the conversation suddenly shifted to her son entering the Army soon, she teared up, and her comrades rushed to comfort her.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

If he made a mistake, she tore up the page.

The New Yorker

She tore up plans for an autobiography before she died in 1972.

Independent

She tore up her knee in her junior year and played another two games on it".

The New Yorker

When she learned of Budd's fast-tracking, she tore up her application in disgust.

The Guardian

When another pupil cheated on a spelling quiz, she tore up the child's answer sheet.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "she teared up" to depict a moment of emotional vulnerability or when someone is deeply touched. It's particularly effective in narrative writing to create empathy.

Common error

Avoid using "she teared up" to describe situations involving uncontrollable sobbing or intense grief. This phrase is better suited for milder displays of emotion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she teared up" functions as a descriptive verb phrase, indicating the onset of tears as a physical manifestation of emotion. As noted by Ludwig AI, it’s a correct and usable expression. Examples show it describing reactions to sad stories or touching moments.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "she teared up" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe someone becoming emotional and showing signs of tears. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. It’s most frequently found in News & Media contexts and serves to convey emotional vulnerability. While versatile, it's best used for milder displays of emotion rather than intense crying. Consider alternatives like "she became tearful" or "tears filled her eyes" for slight variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she became tearful

Replaces "teared up" with a more formal adjective.

she welled up with tears

Emphasizes the physical sensation of tears forming.

tears filled her eyes

Focuses on the visual aspect of tears.

she got emotional

A more general way to describe the display of emotion.

she began to cry

Directly states the act of crying.

she was on the verge of tears

Indicates an imminent crying state.

she choked back tears

Implies an effort to suppress crying.

she was moved to tears

Highlights the cause of the emotional response.

she had tears in her eyes

Focuses on the presence of tears without necessarily implying crying.

she looked like she was about to cry

Describes the appearance of someone close to crying.

FAQs

What does it mean when someone says "she teared up"?

When someone says "she teared up", it means that the person became emotional and started to show signs of tears, often in response to something touching or sad.

What can I say instead of "she teared up"?

You can use alternatives like "she became tearful", "tears filled her eyes", or "she got emotional" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "she teared up"?

Yes, "she teared up" is grammatically correct and a commonly used phrase to describe someone becoming emotional and starting to cry.

What's the difference between "she teared up" and "she started crying"?

"She teared up" suggests a more subtle display of emotion, where tears may be forming but not necessarily flowing. "She started crying", on the other hand, implies a more overt expression of sadness or emotion.