WordGarden.ioemotional
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /ɪmˈəʊʃənəl/
US
- /ˈiˌmoʊʃənəl/
Meanings
Adjective
relating to feelings or emotions
showing, feeling, or causing strong emotion
based more on feelings than on reason
Beyond the definition
Being emotional means feeling and showing feelings—like happiness, sadness, anger, or fear—strongly. Everyone has emotions, but some people show them more openly than others. It's not necessarily a bad thing. A powerful movie might leave you feeling deeply moved, or an emotional speech can inspire change. Sometimes, "emotional" is used to describe someone who gets upset or overwhelmed by their feelings more easily than usual.
Think of it like this: a calm lake is still, but a stormy sea is full of movement and force. You might say your friend is "highly emotional" if they cry during commercials, or that a character in a book is "an emotional wreck" after heartbreak. The word can also describe something that causes strong feelings, like an emotional scene in a movie.
The word "emotional" describes the state of being strongly affected by feelings—whether those feelings are joyful, sorrowful, angry, fearful, or anything in between. It's a fundamental part of what makes us human! While everyone experiences emotions, people vary greatly in how intensely they feel and express them. Someone described as "emotional" might be easily moved to tears, quick to laugh, or prone to dramatic outbursts.
However, "emotional" isn't always negative. It can simply mean someone is deeply sensitive and attuned to their own feelings and the feelings of others. An emotional connection with another person signifies a strong bond built on empathy and understanding. A piece of music might be described as "emotionally resonant" if it evokes powerful feelings in the listener.
The context often dictates the nuance. Saying someone is "being emotional" can sometimes imply they are acting irrationally or overreacting, especially when used critically. But describing a work of art as "emotional" is usually a compliment, suggesting it's deeply moving and impactful.
Historically, there was societal pressure to suppress emotions, particularly for men. However, in recent years, there has been growing acceptance of emotional intelligence—the ability to understand and manage your own emotions and recognize them in others. So, whether you're describing a person, a piece of art, or an experience, "emotional" speaks to the power of feelings and their influence on our lives.
Examples
- 1
Nostalgia
She became emotional when she saw her old school again.
- 2
Overwhelmed
I was too emotional to speak after the meeting.
- 3
Farewell
It was an emotional goodbye at the station.
- 4
Politics
He gets very emotional about politics, so we try not to discuss it at dinner.
- Patternemotional about + topic
having very strong feelings about it
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Family stress
It's been an emotional week for the whole family.
- 6
Support
Right now, she needs emotional support more than practical advice.
- 7
Decision making
Try not to make an emotional decision when you're tired or upset.
- Phrasean emotional decision
a decision based more on feelings than careful thinking
- 8
Relationships
He brought a lot of emotional baggage into the new relationship.
- Phraseemotional baggage
hurt feelings from the past that still affect you
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- emotional response
- emotional support
- emotional intelligence
- become emotional
Word family
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Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- emotionaladjective