“Eyes started to water” means that a person's eyes began to produce tears. Here are some synonyms and their analyses:
1. Eyes began to well up
- Meaning: To become filled with tears. For example, “Her eyes began to well up when she heard the sad news.”
- Usage difference: “Well up” emphasizes the process of the eyes gradually filling with tears. It gives a sense of the eyes slowly accumulating moisture, often due to an emotional response. In contrast to “eyes started to water,” which is a more general description, “well up” can evoke a stronger image of the eyes on the verge of crying.
2. Tears started to form in the eyes
- Meaning: Indicates the initial stage of tear production. For example, “Tears started to form in his eyes as the smoke irritated them.”
- Usage difference: This phrase focuses on the very beginning of the watering process. It's a more matter - of - fact way of saying that tears are starting to come into existence in the eyes. It might be used in a context where the cause of the watering is more physical, like irritation, rather than emotional.
3. Eyes became moist
- Meaning: To become slightly wet or damp with tears. For example, “His eyes became moist when he remembered his childhood home.”
- Usage difference: “Became moist” is a gentler way of expressing the eyes watering. It implies a light dampness and can be used in both emotional and non - emotional contexts. It's less intense than some of the other phrases and might suggest a more subdued emotional response or a mild physical cause.
4. Eyes got watery
- Meaning: A more casual way of saying that the eyes started to produce tears. For example, “The onions made my eyes get watery.”
- Usage difference: “Got watery” is an informal alternative to “started to water.” It's a simple and easy - to - understand phrase that can be used in everyday language to describe the eyes' reaction to various stimuli, such as strong smells or emotions.