The Britannica Dictionary
mobile search
Home
Ask the Editor
Word of the Day
Quizzes
Core Vocabulary
Browse the Dictionary
×
Britannica Homepage
Ask the Editor
Word of the Day
Quizzes
Core Vocabulary
Browse the Dictionary
The Britannica Dictionary
tearful
1 ENTRIES FOUND:
tearful
(adjective)
tearful
/
ˈ
tiɚfəl/
adjective
tearful
/
ˈ
tiɚfəl/
adjective
Britannica Dictionary definition of TEARFUL
[
more tearful; most tearful
]
1
:
filled with tears
He looked up at me with his
tearful
eyes and asked for help.
[+] more examples
[-] hide examples
[+] Example sentences
[-] Hide examples
2
:
happening with tears
a
tearful
plea for help [=a plea for help by someone who is crying]
a
tearful
goodbye
the
tearful
parting of two lovers
[+] more examples
[-] hide examples
[+] Example sentences
[-] Hide examples
— tearfully
adverb
He pleaded
tearfully
for help.
[+] more examples
[-] hide examples
[+] Example sentences
[-] Hide examples
— tearfulness
noun
[
noncount
]
The scene quickly changed from
tearfulness
to laughter.
[+] more examples
[-] hide examples
[+] Example sentences
[-] Hide examples
ASK THE EDITOR
What is the correct verb form in this sentence? "The keys to the car (are, is) on the table."
See the answer »
QUIZZES
Vocabulary Quiz
Test your word power
Take the Quiz »
Name That Thing
Take our visual quiz
Test Your Knowledge »
WORD OF THE DAY
replenish
:
to fill or build up (something) again (
somewhat formal
)
Learn More »