noun

welling

WEH-lihng

noun

The act of rising up and flowing out, the way liquid or emotion can build and spill over.

"The welling of tears in her eyes told him the news had hit harder than she let on."

"A slow welling of pride rose in his chest as he watched his daughter graduate."

How to Use Welling

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomething rising up and starting to overflow, most often used for tears or strong feelings.

Common mistake

Almost always used with "up" (welling up) when talking about emotion or tears.

Common pairings

welling up a welling of emotion tears welling in her eyes

wellings plural, Wellings plural

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Can you complete this real example?

The _____ of tears in her eyes told him the news had hit harder than she let on.

telling selling yelling felling spelling dwelling swelling smelling shelling gruelling modelling expelling