tears streamed down

USAGE SUMMARY

"tears streamed down" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it to describe the physical reaction of a character crying in any form of writing, whether it be fiction or nonfiction. For example: "As the bad news sank in, tears streamed down her cheeks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Tears streamed down her cheeks.

The New Yorker

Tears streamed down his face.

The Guardian - Arts

Soon enough blood, like tears, streamed down this face.

The New York Times - Arts

My body slumped and tears streamed down my face.

The New York Times

Tears streamed down the face of Mr. Baez's widow, Maribel.

The New York Times

Her voice dropped off, then tears streamed down her cheeks.

The New York Times

As he played, tears streamed down his face and those of his three companions.

The New Yorker

As she read Graham's definitive goodbye letter, tears streamed down her face.

The New Yorker

As I drove, tears streamed down my face for no apparent reason.

The New York Times

"You're not supposed to bury your child," she said as tears streamed down her face.

The New York Times

Tears streamed down his face & he remember her asking him to marry her.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "tears streamed down" with sensory details to enhance the emotional impact. Describe the feeling of the tears on the skin or the sound of the person crying.

Common error

Avoid using "tears streamed down" excessively in dialogue-heavy scenes, as it can disrupt the flow and feel repetitive. Opt for more subtle cues like changes in tone or body language.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tears streamed down" functions as a descriptive element, vividly portraying a character's emotional state. It's a common way to show intense emotion, as supported by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "tears streamed down" is a grammatically sound and very common phrase used to depict strong emotional responses. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. Primarily found in News & Media contexts, the phrase effectively conveys intense emotion. For alternative phrasing, options like "tears cascaded down" or "tears rolled down" offer varying degrees of intensity. When writing, be mindful of overusing it in dialogue-heavy scenes. Overall, "tears streamed down" remains a powerful and readily understood way to illustrate deep emotional experiences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tears cascaded down

Replaces "streamed" with "cascaded", emphasizing a continuous and abundant flow of tears.

tears flowed freely

Focuses on the uninhibited and natural flow of tears.

tears poured down

Emphasizes the intensity and volume of tears.

tears ran down

A more straightforward and simple way to describe tears flowing.

tears rolled down

Suggests a gentler, less forceful flow of tears.

crying uncontrollably

Shifts the focus to the act of crying rather than the physical tears.

weeping openly

Highlights the visible and public display of grief.

sobbing deeply

Focuses on the physical act of sobbing as an expression of intense sadness.

eyes welled up with tears

Describes the initial filling of the eyes with tears before they flow.

face was wet with tears

Highlights the result of crying, emphasizing the presence of tears on the face.

FAQs

What does "tears streamed down" mean?

The phrase "tears streamed down" means that someone is crying and tears are flowing continuously from their eyes, often due to strong emotion.

What's a more descriptive alternative to "tears streamed down"?

Instead of "tears streamed down", consider using phrases like "tears cascaded down" for a more intense image, or "tears rolled down" for a gentler depiction.

Can "tears streamed down" be used in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "tears streamed down" is often more appropriate for narrative or descriptive writing. In formal contexts, consider more restrained language to convey emotion.

Is it okay to use "tears streamed down" to describe joy?

Yes, "tears streamed down" can describe tears of joy as well as sadness. The phrase emphasizes the intensity of the emotion, regardless of whether it's positive or negative.