to well
- verb
- /wɛl/
- As the news sank in, a feeling of panic began to well up inside him.
- tears well up
- eyes well up
You will find like a deep anxiety welling up in your chest.
- You will find like a deep anxiety welling up in your chest.
- And I found myself start to well up in the gym as I was trying to lift the weight.
- Give me like a sponge with a fuzzy bum and my eyes well up.
- But that was just a lie that I used to get by so that you wouldn't see the tears welling up in my eyes.
- To be lit was to burn slowly, a blister welling up the is or the IT, the oohs of it, Vulgate rub and release.
Examples
-
When she was sad, tears began to well up in her eyes.
-
I'm welling up with tears.
-
Brian tries to follow, but the fire wells up, cutting him off.
Fiction book (1991) -
His eyes were welling with tears: "Please give this to that lady!"
Academic text (2010) -
You will find like a deep anxiety welling up in your chest.
-
Jacob stares at himself for a long time as a huge cry wells up inside him.
Fiction book (1990) -
There is also something more: a rage welling up and passionate caring.
Academic text (1993) -
Sometimes I sense deep anger welling up and have to choke it back.
Fiction book (1993) -
Laughter beyond my control began welling up in my throat and burst forth in a half-strangulated chuckle.
Fiction book (1990) -
Emotions started to well up as he recalled his childhood memories.
Synonyms
To feel a strong emotion, like pride or anger, growing inside
To flow out suddenly and forcefully, like blood from a wound
To have strong feelings rise and make you want to cry
To rise and flow out like tears or strong feelings
To trail out in a long, flowing way behind something
Move out of a building in large numbers
Move or pour out in a steady stream, often a liquid
To flow out in large amounts, like tears or blood
Antonyms
Idioms
Phrasal Verbs
Compounds
- Specialized
A well drilled through rock into water that rises to the surface from natural pressure
- Specialized
A hole that lets extra rain or water on the ground flow into the earth
- Specialized
An oil well near the end of its life that produces less than ten barrels a day
Kind words and actions that show someone wants another person to be happy or successful
- Specialized
A low space at the bottom of a ship where leaked water collects to be pumped out
- Archaic
Being friendly and cheerful when meeting people, sometimes too familiar
- Specialized
A tube with small holes pushed into the ground to collect water from soil
A chair for one person with soft thick cushions and a fabric cover that makes it very comfortable
How Strong
Surface Forms
Etymology
Well as a verb comes from the noun well (a spring): it means 'to rise up' just like water rising in a well, so feelings or tears 'well up' when they come to the surface.