What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
tearful
Example
She gave a tearful speech at her sister's wedding. [tearful: adjective]
Example
The movie's ending was so sad that it left me feeling tearful. [tearful: adjective]
Example
He looked tearful after hearing the news of his grandfather's passing. [tearful: adjective]
crying
Example
She couldn't stop crying after her breakup. [crying: present participle]
Example
The baby was crying all night due to teething pain. [crying: present participle]
Example
He was crying in the corner after losing the game. [crying: present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Crying is more common than tearful in everyday language and covers a wider range of contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between tearful and crying?
Both tearful and crying can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but tearful may be seen as slightly more formal due to its less frequent usage.
