English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun

welling

WEH-lihng
Quiz me More like this

Welling (noun) means the act of rising up and flowing out, the way liquid or emotion can build and spill over. Example: “The welling of tears in her eyes told him the news had hit harder than she let on.”

noun
1
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
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like welling.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice

Word forms

Plural
wellings
Test yourself on “welling” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

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

Rhymes for welling

See all rhymes for welling →

Frequently asked questions

What does “welling” mean?
The word “welling” means the act of rising up and flowing out, the way liquid or emotion can build and spill over. In plain terms, something rising up and starting to overflow, most often used for tears or strong feelings.
How do you pronounce “welling”?
“Welling” is pronounced WEH-lihng (/ˈwɛlɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “welling” in a sentence?
Here is “welling” used in a sentence: “The welling of tears in her eyes told him the news had hit harder than she let on.”
What part of speech is “welling”?
“Welling” is a noun.