tears welling

USAGE SUMMARY

'tears welling' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It expresses the act of tears forming in the eyes, such as when a person is sad or emotional. An example sentence could be: "The young boy watched sadly in silence as tears welled in his eyes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I felt tears welling up.

The New York Times - Magazine

"For my brothers," says Siode Arbolia, 35, tears welling up.

The Guardian

"Oh, please, can you help me?" he said, tears welling.

The New York Times

"Oddly, I was kind of relieved," she said, tears welling up in her eyes.

The New York Times

She ran into a friend who noticed the tears welling in her eyes.

The New York Times

Mr. Collins clicked through photo after photo, tears welling up in his eyes.

The New York Times

She started to cry, tears welling up on glue-on eyelashes.

The New York Times

"I don't want him to do that," Tracy said, tears welling in her eyes.

The Washington Post

"I'm happy with this," he said, his lips trembling and tears welling in his eyes.

The New York Times

After saying "amen," Tony looked up to see tears welling in his father's eyes.

The New York Times - Sports

If she could leave, she would, she said recently, tears welling in her eyes.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "tears welling" to vividly describe the initial stage of crying, conveying a sense of building emotion. This phrase is particularly effective in narrative writing to evoke empathy.

Common error

Avoid using "tears welling" excessively in dialogue tags. While descriptive, frequent repetition can become redundant. Instead, vary your descriptions of emotional expression or focus on the dialogue itself to convey emotion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tears welling" functions primarily as a descriptive element, often within a narrative context. It vividly portrays the onset of crying and serves to emphasize the emotional state of a character. Ludwig shows many examples of the phrase used in literature and news media.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "tears welling" is a common and effective way to describe the physical sensation of tears forming in the eyes, typically indicating a strong emotional response. As Ludwig AI confirms, it adheres to standard English grammar and is widely used across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While it is a descriptive phrase applicable to both positive and negative emotions, overuse can be avoided by using a number of alternatives that vary in intensity and descriptive detail, such as "eyes brimming with tears" or "on the verge of tears". Overall, "tears welling" remains a valuable and versatile phrase for writers aiming to vividly portray emotional states.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

eyes brimming with tears

Focuses on the fullness of tears in the eyes, emphasizing the immediate prelude to crying.

tears starting to form

Highlights the initial stage of tear production, indicating an emerging emotional response.

on the verge of tears

Emphasizes the imminence of crying, suggesting a strong emotional trigger.

tears gathering in eyes

Describes the accumulation of tears, similar to "tears welling" but with a slightly more active connotation.

becoming tearful

Indicates a shift towards a state of sadness or emotion that leads to tears.

eyes misting over

Uses a metaphorical description of the eyes clouding with tears, implying a softer emotional response.

fighting back tears

Highlights the effort to suppress crying, suggesting inner turmoil.

tears threatening to spill

Presents tears as an impending overflow, emphasizing the difficulty in controlling emotions.

eyes glistening with tears

Focuses on the reflective quality of tears in the eyes, suggesting a more subtle display of emotion.

about to cry

Simply states the anticipation of crying, without the descriptive imagery of tear formation.

FAQs

How can I describe the feeling of "tears welling" in a more intense way?

To express a more intense feeling, consider using phrases like "eyes brimming with tears" or "on the verge of tears", which emphasize the imminence and volume of tears.

Is it correct to say "waters welling" instead of "tears welling"?

While "waters welling" can be used poetically, "tears welling" is the more common and direct expression for describing the physical sensation of tears forming in the eyes due to emotion.

What does it mean when someone says they felt "tears welling" up?

It typically signifies that they are experiencing a strong emotion, such as sadness, happiness, or frustration, and are on the brink of crying. It's a physical manifestation of an emotional response.

Can "tears welling" describe positive emotions as well as negative ones?

Yes, "tears welling" can describe both positive and negative emotions. It's the context of the situation that determines whether the emotion is one of joy, relief, sorrow, or another feeling.