Teary means having tears in your eyes or being on the verge of crying. Your eyes might get teary when you're sad, when you're laughing really hard, or even when you're chopping onions. Athletes sometimes get teary after winning a championship they've worked years to achieve.

The word describes that glassy, wet look eyes get right before tears actually fall. Someone might have teary eyes while watching a touching movie scene or saying goodbye to a close friend who's moving away. Your eyes can also become teary from allergies, smoke, or cold wind (situations that have nothing to do with emotion).

Notice that teary suggests tears are present or forming, but not necessarily falling yet. It's different from actually crying or sobbing. A student giving a speech about their grandmother might get teary but manage to keep their composure and finish strong. The word captures that moment when emotion shows in your eyes but you might still have control over whether those tears spill over.