Skip to main content
to burst into tears

to burst into tears

24 2.4
To suddenly cry because of a strong feeling
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : echarse a llorar
  • I burst into tears.

You wrote something in your book that made me burst into tears this morning.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • The bride burst into tears and swore she was gonna have nightmares the rest of her life because of that dog.

  • You wrote something in your book that made me burst into tears this morning.

  • I think he will burst into tears.

  • And I burst into tears.

  • The poor guy burst into tears.

  • I actually burst into tears.

  • When he saw me, he fell on my neck and burst into tears.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • When she got back to the house, she felt so depressed she burst into tears.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • The younger boy burst into tears and ran to his mother, sobbing.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • The three girls were so frightened that they burst into tears upon entering the courthouse.

Synonyms

to weep
vsto burst into tears
208 1.1

To cry and let tears fall because you feel sad or have strong feelings

starts suddenly as an immediate emotional reaction rather than general crying
to break down
vsto burst into tears
111 3.9

To lose control of your feelings and cry or collapse

starts suddenly without implying a total loss of control
to break into
vsto burst into tears
50 4.0

Suddenly start making a sound, like singing, laughing or crying

happens specifically as a sudden start of crying
to bawl
vsto burst into tears
39 5.9

Cry or shout loudly and without control

is a sudden start of crying not focused on loud uncontrolled noise
to sob
vsto burst into tears
15 1.0

To cry with short, noisy breaths

begins suddenly rather than focusing on noisy breathing
to cry one's eyes out
vsto burst into tears
  • Informal
7 4.2

Cry for a long time because you feel very sad

is a sudden short start rather than prolonged intense crying
moved to tears
vsto burst into tears
5 4.3

Feeling strong emotion that makes you cry

happens suddenly as a quick emotional reaction rather than being caused
to bawl one's eyes out
vsto burst into tears
  • Informal
3 7.6

Cry very loudly and for a long time

is a sudden short start rather than loud long uncontrolled crying
reduced to tears
vsto burst into tears
1 4.6

To make someone cry because of a strong feeling like sadness or joy

happens suddenly rather than being gradually caused by emotion

Antonyms

1.0

To turn the corners of your mouth up to show happiness or friendliness

How Emotional

to break down
111 3.9
to wail
84 3.2
to sob
15 1.0
to burst into tears
24 2.4
to cry
1.0

Surface Forms

burst into tears infinitive
burst into tears past participle
bursting into tears present participle
bursts into tears third person singular

Morphology

burst + into + tears

The meaning 'to suddenly begin crying' is directly derivable from the constituents: 'burst' (to happen suddenly or release), 'into' (change into a state), and 'tears' (crying). This verb + into + state construction is a regular, cross-linguistic pattern, so a B1 learner who knows the words should be able to understand the MWE.

Etymology

Burst into tears gives the image of something suddenly breaking and letting out a rush of liquid. Here burst is that sudden break and tears are the flow of crying, so the phrase means 'to suddenly begin crying'.