tear up

Related to word: tear

Phrasal Verb

Definition

  1. to have tears well up in your eyes, nearly leading to crying, due to experiencing intense emotions

    • At her graduation ceremony, she couldn't help but tear up when her family presented her with a letter.

    • He tears up every time he watches that movie because of its touching storyline.

    • After hearing her friend's success story, she felt so proud that she teared up.