Tear vs. Cry — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on March 21, 2024
Tear involves the physical act of shedding tears, often as a response to emotions, while crying encompasses the vocal expression of those emotions.
Difference Between Tear and Cry
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Tear is a bodily response where the lacrimal glands produce fluid, which can occur due to a variety of emotions or physical irritants. Whereas crying is often characterized by the combination of tears, sobbing, and other vocal expressions indicating distress, sadness, or even happiness.
Tears can be involuntary and a reflex action to irritation, such as dust in the eyes or cutting onions, highlighting their role in eye protection and lubrication. On the other hand, crying is usually a more complex, emotional process that involves the central nervous system and reflects a psychological state.
While tears themselves can be silent and may not always signify emotional distress, crying is generally associated with a sound or whimper, making it a more noticeable sign of emotional expression or need for assistance.
Tears can occur without crying, especially in situations of eye irritation or when someone is trying to hold back their emotions. Conversely, crying usually involves tears, but the emphasis is on the emotional outburst rather than the mere presence of tears.
In some cultures, tears are seen as a sign of genuine emotion or strength, especially in communal or supportive settings. Whereas, crying can sometimes be viewed differently, depending on cultural norms around emotional expression and the context in which it occurs.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Liquid produced by the lacrimal glands.
Vocal expression of emotions, often with tears.
Cause
Emotional response, irritation, or reflex.
Emotional distress, pain, or happiness.
Physical response
Silent, involves tear production.
Includes sobbing, whimpers, and loud sounds.
Emotional context
Not always emotional (e.g., irritation).
Primarily emotional (sadness, joy, frustration).
Social perception
Varied, sometimes seen as strength.
Cultural norms influence its acceptability.
Compare with Definitions
Tear
A drop of clear salty liquid secreted by glands in your eyes.
A tear rolled down her cheek as she waved goodbye.
Cry
An act often seeking comfort or attention.
He cried out for help in the darkness.
Tear
Varies in cause and interpretation.
A single tear can mean a multitude of things, from joy to despair.
Cry
To shed tears as a response to an emotional state.
She began to cry tears of joy.
Tear
Part of the body's natural defense mechanism.
Tears help remove irritants from the eye.
Cry
Reflects a wide range of emotions.
They cried in frustration as the news broke.
Tear
Physical response to emotion or irritation.
The smoke made tears stream from his eyes.
Cry
Vocal expressions accompanying tears.
The baby's cry could be heard across the hall.
Tear
Can be silent and not necessarily emotional.
Cutting onions brought tears to her eyes, but she wasn't sad.
Cry
Culturally and contextually influenced expression.
In some places, it's common to cry openly at weddings.
Tear
To pull apart or into pieces by force; rend.
Cry
To make oral and public proclamation of; to declare publicly; to notify or advertise by outcry, especially things lost or found, goods to be sold, ets.; as, to cry goods, etc.
Love is lost, and thus she cries him.
Tear
To cause to be pulled apart unintentionally, as by accident
Tore my pants on the barbed wire.
Cry
Shed tears, typically as an expression of distress, pain, or sorrow
Don't cry—it'll be all right
You'll cry tears of joy
Tear
To lacerate (the skin, for example).
Cry
Shout or scream, typically to express fear, pain, or grief
The little girl fell down and cried for mummy
Tear
To make (an opening) in something by pulling it apart or by accident
I tore a hole in my stocking.
Cry
(of a bird or other animal) make a loud characteristic call
The wild birds cried out over the water
Tear
To separate forcefully; wrench
Tore the pipe from the wall.
Cry
A loud inarticulate shout or scream expressing a powerful feeling or emotion
A cry of despair
Tear
To divide or disrupt
Was torn between opposing choices.
A country that was torn by strife.
Cry
The loud characteristic call of a bird or other animal
The harsh cries of magpies
Tear
To become torn
The fabric does not tear easily.
Cry
A pack of hounds
He kept a cry of hounds to hunt in the wilderness
Tear
To move with heedless speed; rush headlong
Tore off down the road.
Tore along the avenue.
Cry
To shed tears, especially as a result of strong emotion such as grief, sorrow, pain, or joy.
Tear
To become filled with tears
The strong wind caused my eyes to tear.
Cry
To call loudly; shout.
Tear
The act of tearing.
Cry
To utter a characteristic sound or call. Used of an animal.
Tear
The result of tearing; a rip or rent
The shirt has a small tear.
Cry
To demand or require immediate action or remedy
Grievances crying out for redress.
Tear
A great rush; a hurry.
Cry
To utter loudly; call out.
Tear
(Slang) A carousal; a spree.
Cry
To proclaim or announce in public
Crying one's wares in the marketplace.
Tear
A drop of the clear salty liquid that is secreted by the lachrymal gland of the eye to lubricate the surface between the eyeball and eyelid and to wash away irritants.
Cry
To bring into a particular condition by weeping
Cry oneself to sleep.
Tear
Tears A profusion of this liquid spilling from the eyes and wetting the cheeks, especially as an expression of emotion.
Cry
(Archaic) To beg for; implore
Cry forgiveness.
Tear
Tears The act of weeping
Criticism that left me in tears.
Cry
A loud utterance of an emotion, such as fear, anger, or despair.
Tear
A drop of a liquid or hardened fluid.
Cry
A loud exclamation; a shout or call.
Tear
(transitive) To rend (a solid material) by holding or restraining in two places and pulling apart, whether intentionally or not; to destroy or separate.
He tore his coat on the nail.
Cry
A fit of weeping
Had a good long cry.
Tear
(transitive) To injure as if by pulling apart.
He has a torn ligament.
He tore some muscles in a weight-lifting accident.
Cry
An urgent entreaty or appeal.
Tear
(transitive) To destroy or reduce abstract unity or coherence, such as social, political or emotional.
He was torn by conflicting emotions.
Cry
A public or general demand or complaint.
Tear
(transitive) To make (an opening) with force or energy.
A piece of debris tore a tiny straight channel through the satellite.
His boss will tear him a new one when he finds out.
The artillery tore a gap in the line.
Cry
A common view or general report.
Tear
To remove by tearing.
Tear the coupon out of the newspaper.
Cry
An advertising of wares by calling out
Vendors' cries at the fish market.
Tear
To demolish
The slums were torn down to make way for the new development.
Cry
A rallying call or signal
A cry to arms.
Tear
(intransitive) To become torn, especially accidentally.
My dress has torn.
Cry
A slogan, especially a political one.
Tear
(intransitive) To move or act with great speed, energy, or violence.
He went tearing down the hill at 90 miles per hour.
The tornado lingered, tearing through town, leaving nothing upright.
He tore into the backlog of complaints.
Cry
The characteristic call or utterance of an animal.
Tear
(intransitive) To smash or enter something with great force.
The chain shot tore into the approaching line of infantry.
Cry
The baying of hounds during the chase.
Tear
(intransitive) To produce tears.
Her eyes began to tear in the harsh wind.
Cry
A pack of hounds.
Tear
A hole or break caused by tearing.
A small tear is easy to mend, if it is on the seam.
Cry
(Obsolete) Clamor; outcry.
Tear
(slang) A rampage.
To go on a tear
Cry
(Obsolete) A public announcement; a proclamation.
Tear
A drop of clear, salty liquid produced from the eyes by crying or irritation.
There were big tears rolling down Lisa's cheeks.
Ryan wiped the tear from the paper he was crying on.
Cry
(intransitive) To shed tears; to weep.
That sad movie always makes me cry.
Tear
Something in the form of a transparent drop of fluid matter; also, a solid, transparent, tear-shaped drop, as of some balsams or resins.
Cry
(transitive) To utter loudly; to call out; to declare publicly.
Tear
(glass manufacture) A partially vitrified bit of clay in glass.
Cry
(ambitransitive) To shout, scream, yell.
Tear
That which causes or accompanies tears; a lament; a dirge.
Cry
(intransitive) To utter inarticulate sounds, as animals do.
Tear
A drop of the limpid, saline fluid secreted, normally in small amount, by the lachrymal gland, and diffused between the eye and the eyelids to moisten the parts and facilitate their motion. Ordinarily the secretion passes through the lachrymal duct into the nose, but when it is increased by emotion or other causes, it overflows the lids.
And yet for thee ne wept she never a tear.
Cry
(transitive) To cause to do something, or bring to some state, by crying or weeping.
Tonight I’ll cry myself to sleep.
Tear
Something in the form of a transparent drop of fluid matter; also, a solid, transparent, tear-shaped drop, as of some balsams or resins.
Let Araby extol her happy coast,Her fragrant flowers, her trees with precious tears.
Cry
To make oral and public proclamation of; to notify or advertise by outcry, especially things lost or found, goods to be sold, auctioned, etc.
To cry goods
Tear
That which causes or accompanies tears; a lament; a dirge.
Cry
Hence, to publish the banns of, as for marriage.
Tear
A partially vitrified bit of clay in glass.
Cry
A shedding of tears; the act of crying.
After we broke up, I retreated to my room for a good cry.
Tear
The act of tearing, or the state of being torn; a rent; a fissure.
Cry
A shout or scream.
I heard a cry from afar.
Tear
To separate by violence; to pull apart by force; to rend; to lacerate; as, to tear cloth; to tear a garment; to tear the skin or flesh.
Tear him to pieces; he's a conspirator.
Cry
Words shouted or screamed.
A battle cry
Tear
Hence, to divide by violent measures; to disrupt; to rend; as, a party or government torn by factions.
Cry
A clamour or outcry.
Tear
To rend away; to force away; to remove by force; to sunder; as, a child torn from its home.
The hand of fateHath torn thee from me.
Cry
(collectively) A group of hounds.
Tear
To pull with violence; as, to tear the hair.
Cry
A pack or company of people.
Tear
To move violently; to agitate.
Cry
(of an animal) A typical sound made by the species in question.
"Woof" is the cry of a dog, while "neigh" is the cry of a horse.
Tear
To divide or separate on being pulled; to be rent; as, this cloth tears easily.
Cry
A desperate or urgent request.
Tear
To move and act with turbulent violence; to rush with violence; hence, to rage; to rave.
Cry
(obsolete) Common report; gossip.
Tear
A drop of the clear salty saline solution secreted by the lacrimal glands;
His story brought tears to her eyes
Cry
To make a loud call or cry; to call or exclaim vehemently or earnestly; to shout; to vociferate; to proclaim; to pray; to implore.
And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice.
Clapping their hands, and crying with loud voice.
Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry unto thee.
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord.
Some cried after him to return.
Tear
An opening made forcibly as by pulling apart;
There was a rip in his pants
She had snags in her stockings
Cry
To utter lamentations; to lament audibly; to express pain, grief, or distress, by weeping and sobbing; to shed tears; to bawl, as a child.
Ye shall cry for sorrow of heart.
I could find it in my heart to disgrace my man's apparel and to cry like a woman.
Tear
An occasion for excessive eating or drinking;
They went on a bust that lasted three days
Cry
To utter inarticulate sounds, as animals.
The young ravens which cry.
In a cowslip's bell I lieThere I couch when owls do cry.
Tear
The act of tearing;
He took the manuscript in both hands and gave it a mighty tear
Cry
To utter loudly; to call out; to shout; to sound abroad; to declare publicly.
All, all, cry shame against ye, yet I 'll speak.
The man . . . ran on,crying, Life! life! Eternal life!
Tear
Separate or cause to separate abruptly;
The rope snapped
Tear the paper
Cry
To cause to do something, or bring to some state, by crying or weeping; as, to cry one's self to sleep.
Tear
To separate or be separated by force;
Planks were in danger of being torn from the crossbars
Cry
To publish the banns of, as for marriage.
I should not be surprised if they were cried in church next Sabbath.
Men of dissolute lives cry down religion, because they would not be under the restraints of it.
Tear
Move quickly and violently;
The car tore down the street
He came charging into my office
Cry
A loud utterance; especially, the inarticulate sound produced by one of the lower animals; as, the cry of hounds; the cry of wolves.
Tear
Strip of feathers;
Pull a chicken
Pluck the capon
Cry
Outcry; clamor; tumult; popular demand.
Again that cry was found to have been as unreasonable as ever.
Tear
Fill with tears or shed tears;
Her eyes were tearing
Cry
Any expression of grief, distress, etc., accompanied with tears or sobs; a loud sound, uttered in lamentation.
There shall be a great cry throughout all the land.
An infant crying in the night,An infant crying for the light;And with no language but a cry.
Cry
Loud expression of triumph or wonder or of popular acclamation or favor.
The cry went once on thee.
Cry
Importunate supplication.
O, the most piteous cry of the poor souls.
Cry
Public advertisement by outcry; proclamation, as by hawkers of their wares.
The street cries of London.
Cry
Common report; fame.
The cry goes that you shall marry her.
Cry
A word or phrase caught up by a party or faction and repeated for effect; as, the party cry of the Tories.
All now depends upon a good cry.
Cry
A pack of hounds.
A cry more tunableWas never hollaed to, nor cheered with horn.
Cry
A pack or company of persons; - in contempt.
Would not this . . . get me a fellowship in a cry of players?
Cry
The crackling noise made by block tin when it is bent back and forth.
Cry
A loud utterance; often in protest or opposition;
The speaker was interrupted by loud cries from the rear of the audience
Cry
A loud utterance of emotion (especially when inarticulate);
A cry of rage
A yell of pain
Cry
A slogan used to rally support for a cause;
A cry to arms
Our watchword will be `democracy'
Cry
A fit of weeping;
Had a good cry
Cry
The characteristic utterance of an animal;
Animal cries filled the night
Cry
Utter a sudden loud cry;
She cried with pain when the doctor inserted the needle
I yelled to her from the window but she couldn't hear me
Cry
Shed tears because of sadness, rage, or pain;
She cried bitterly when she heard the news of his death
The girl in the wheelchair wept with frustration when she could not get up the stairs
Cry
Utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy;
`I won!' he exclaimed
`Help!' she cried
`I'm here,' the mother shouted when she saw her child looking lost
Cry
Proclaim or announce in public;
Before we had newspapers, a town cryer would cry the news
He cried his merchandise in the market square
Cry
Demand immediate action;
This situation is crying for attention
Cry
Utter a characteristic sound;
The cat was crying
Cry
Bring into a particular state by crying;
The little boy cried himself to sleep
Common Curiosities
Is crying different from shedding tears?
Yes, crying usually involves emotional vocal expressions along with shedding tears, while shedding tears can be a physical response without the emotional component.
Are all tears the same?
No, there are three types of tears: basal (lubricate the eyes), reflex (caused by irritants), and emotional (triggered by feelings).
Why do people cry?
People cry for various reasons, including emotional stress, happiness, pain, and as a response to physical irritants.
What is a "good cry"?
A "good cry" refers to a cathartic release of emotions, leading to a sense of relief or lightness afterward.
Why do onions make you tear up?
Onions release a chemical that turns into sulfuric acid when it comes in contact with the moisture in your eyes, causing irritation and tears.
Can you cry without tears?
Yes, crying can occur without tears, especially in cases of extreme dehydration or certain medical conditions.
Is crying good for health?
Crying can be therapeutic, helping to relieve emotional stress and foster a sense of well-being.
Can tears be controlled?
While involuntary reflex tears are hard to control, some people can manage or suppress emotional tears to an extent.
What does it mean to cry silently?
Crying silently involves shedding tears without vocal expressions, often due to intense emotion or an attempt to conceal one's emotional state.
Is it possible to run out of tears?
While you might temporarily produce fewer tears after extended crying, your body continues to produce tears as they are necessary for eye health.
Do animals cry?
Many animals produce tears for eye lubrication or to remove irritants, but crying as an emotional expression is considered unique to humans.
Does crying dehydrate you?
Yes, excessive crying can lead to dehydration, especially if not coupled with adequate fluid intake.
Why do babies cry?
Babies cry to communicate needs or discomfort, as it's their primary means of communication.
Is there a difference in the way men and women cry?
Studies suggest women may cry more frequently and intensely than men, possibly due to socialization and hormonal differences.
Can crying help you sleep?
For some, crying before sleep can lead to relaxation and help in falling asleep, likely due to emotional release.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
