Pronunciation: [tˈi͡əfə͡l] (IPA) 
Tearful is a seven-letter word that means to be filled with tears. The IPA phonetic transcription for tearful is /ˈtɪə.fʊl/. The word begins with the "t" sound followed by the short "i" sound represented by "ɪ". The next two letters "e" and "a" together make up the "ea" sound represented by "ɪə". The next letter "f" is pronounced as the "f" sound. The final two letters "u" and "l" combine to make the "ʊl" sound.
The term "tearful" is an adjective that refers to displaying or experiencing emotional distress or sorrow, often accompanied by the shedding of tears. It describes a state or condition where a person expresses their emotions through tears and implies the strong presence of sadness or grief.
When someone is tearful, they may have watery eyes, a quivering voice, or visible signs of crying. It typically denotes a heightened emotional state, often triggered by situations that evoke feelings of intense sadness, pain, disappointment, or loss. It is an outward manifestation of the person's emotional response, demonstrating that they are deeply affected by their emotions.
The tearfulness of an individual can be caused by various factors, such as personal setbacks, separation from loved ones, heartbreak, or the loss of someone or something significant. It signifies the overflow of emotions that cannot be contained or controlled, resulting in the release of tears.
The term "tearful" emphasizes the connection between the expression of tears and the individual's emotional state, highlighting the strong correlation between the two. It is a way to describe a person's sorrowful demeanor or their state of emotional vulnerability, indicating that they are deeply moved or affected by their feelings.
Full of tears; shedding tears.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "tearful" is derived from the noun "tear", which refers to the clear, salty liquid secreted by the lacrimal glands in the eyes. The noun "tear" comes from Middle English "teer" and Old English "tear", both of which have Germanic roots. The origin can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "taher", meaning "tear". The suffix "-ful" is added to the noun "tear" to form the adjective "tearful", indicating someone or something that is full of tears or prone to shedding tears.
