tearful UK /ˈtɪə(ɹ)fʊl/US /ˈtɪɹfʊl/ adjective2 •Accompanied by tears; crying, or about to cry.Aaron got a little tearful until Laura came to reassure him. •Sorrowful.Receiving the news of Joseph Beam's death two days after Christmas was a piercing blow that sent me into a tearful and contemplative stupor from which I have not yet emerged. — 1989 formsmore tearful · most tearful