tearnoun
Emma looked close to tears.
The mayor was subdued and close to tears as she gave an update on the damage and loss of life caused by the hurricane.
I saw many members of staff close to tears as they took in the news that the office was being shut down.
I was brought close to tears by some of the scenes at the end of the film.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Weeping and crying
bawl
blubber
boohoo
break down
bucket
burst out laughing/cryingidiom
crier
grizzle
have a sookidiom
lachrymose
lachrymosely
mewl
mewling
tear something up
tear-stained
tear-streaked
teardrop
tearful
tearfully
waterworks