emotional

emotional — adjective

1. relating to the feelings that people have inside them, such as sadness, joy, or

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

relating to the feelings that people have inside them, such as sadness, joy, or fear — as opposed to facts, physical sensations, or logical thoughts.

Example

The school counselor helps children deal with emotional problems after a crisis.

collocation: emotional problems / emotional support

Ada's emotional state improved when she started exercising regularly.

collocation: emotional state

Common collocations
  • emotional problems
  • emotional state
  • emotional response
  • emotional support
  • emotional development
  • emotional well-being
Synonyms
  • affective

    a technical term used mainly in psychology and medicine; not common in everyday speech

  • emotive

    describes language or behavior that deliberately arouses feelings, not simply relating to them

Antonyms
  • cognitive

    relating to thinking and reasoning rather than feelings

Usage Note

Frequently placed before a noun. This sense refers to the domain of feelings in general, not to how strongly someone expresses them — compare sense 2.

Common Mistakes

He was very emotional about the scientific data.' (when meaning 'concerned with emotions')
He was very emotional about the scientific data.' when the intended meaning is 'showing strong feelings
use sense 2, not sense 1. For domain use: 'The study examined emotional responses to music.'

2. showing or experiencing strong feelings such as sadness, joy, or anger in a way

2.adjectiveB1
Definition

showing or experiencing strong feelings such as sadness, joy, or anger in a way that is open and visible to others — for example, crying during a sad movie or laughing with joy at good news.

Example

Henry became very emotional when he talked about his childhood in Taiwan.

pattern: become + emotional when…

Shirin, an emotional person, cries easily at happy news and sad stories.

pattern: emotional + noun describing a person

Common collocations
  • get emotional
  • become emotional
  • too emotional
  • emotional person
  • emotional response
Synonyms
  • sentimental

    implies tender feelings often tied to memories or nostalgia; slightly softer than 'emotional'

  • passionate

    expresses very strong enthusiasm or desire, not just sadness or joy

  • effusive

    shows feelings in an extremely open and often energetic way; slightly formal

Antonyms
  • unemotional

    not showing feelings even when most people would

  • stoic

    endures hardship without showing feelings; culturally associated with endurance

Grammar Patterns

be/become/get/feel + emotional

emotional + noun (person)

Usage Note

When used before a noun (e.g. 'an emotional person'), it describes a recurring trait — someone who often shows feelings. When used after a linking verb (e.g. 'got emotional'), it describes a temporary state triggered by a particular event.

Common Mistakes

She became emotional when she heard the statistics.' (too vague)
She became emotional when she heard the news about her friend's recovery.
the trigger needs to be something personally meaningful, not just any information.

3. showing more feeling than a situation calls for, to the point that other people

3.adjectiveB2
Definition

showing more feeling than a situation calls for, to the point that other people consider it exaggerated or unnecessary.

Example

The judge warned the witness not to become so emotional during testimony.

negative connotation: told not to be emotional

Linh found her colleague's emotional reaction to a small mistake rather embarrassing.

Common collocations
  • too emotional
  • overly emotional
  • needlessly emotional
Synonyms
  • melodramatic

    dramatically exaggerated, like a stage actor; more theatrical than 'emotional'

  • hysterical

    extremely uncontrolled; much stronger and more negative than 'emotional'

  • overwrought

    very anxious and upset, often about something minor; slightly formal

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

be/get/becoming + emotional

Usage Note

This sense carries a mildly critical tone. It is used when the speaker thinks the emotional display is more than the situation calls for. Distinguish from sense 2 (SHOWING STRONG FEELINGS), which is neutral or sympathetic.

Common Mistakes

❌ 'I felt emotional at my daughter's wedding.' (neutral, appropriate) — this describes a normal reaction and should use sense 2, not sense 3.

4. making people feel strong emotions such as sadness, sympathy, or excitement — us

4.adjectiveB1
Definition

making people feel strong emotions such as sadness, sympathy, or excitement — used to describe events, stories, films, speeches, or moments that touch the heart.

Example

The documentary about endangered animals was so emotional that many viewers cried.

pattern: so emotional that…

Tendai and his sister had an emotional reunion at the airport after eight years apart.

collocation: emotional reunion

Common collocations
  • emotional moment
  • emotional reunion
  • emotional appeal
  • emotional scene
  • emotional goodbye
  • emotional roller-coaster
Synonyms
  • moving

    suggests the feeling is deep and touching; strongly positive

  • touching

    gentler than 'emotional'; implies tenderness or sympathy

  • poignant

    a sharp, bittersweet feeling; more intense and literary

Antonyms
  • unemotional

    not causing any emotional response

  • dry

    lacking emotional warmth; often used for writing or speech

Grammar Patterns

emotional + noun (event, experience, work of art)

Usage Note

The noun it modifies is always the thing that causes the feeling, not the person experiencing it. Compare: 'an emotional movie' (sense 4, the movie causes feelings) vs. 'an emotional person' (sense 2, the person shows feelings).

Common Mistakes

She is an emotional movie.' (person vs. cause confusion)
She watched an emotional movie.
'emotional' before a thing (movie, speech, event) means 'causing emotions'; before a person it means 'showing emotions'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/2

All four words describe people who feel or show things strongly, but they differ in emphasis. 'Emotional' (B1) is the broadest — it describes someone who openly shows whatever they feel, whether sadness, joy, or anger. 'Sentimental' (B2) is narrower, tied specifically to tender, nostalgic feelings about the past, loved ones, or keepsakes; a sentimental person might cry over old photos or childhood songs. 'Passionate' (B1) shifts the focus from sadness to intense enthusiasm or desire — a passionate person feels strongly about causes, hobbies, or relationships rather than crying easily. 'Sensitive' (B1) is about being easily affected, especially hurt, by others' words or behavior; a sensitive person may not show feelings openly but feels them very quickly. For example: 'Henry became emotional when he spoke about his childhood' (openly shows feelings); 'Shirin is sentimental about the old house where she grew up' (tender nostalgia); 'Ignacio is passionate about environmental issues' (strong enthusiasm); 'Eri is sensitive to criticism and takes it to heart' (easily affected).

emotional ↗sentimentalpassionate ↗sensitive ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • emotional roller-coaster
  • emotional baggage
  • emotional wreck

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'emotional' comes from the Latin 'emovere', meaning 'to move out, to stir up'. This was formed by 'ex-' (out) plus 'movere' (to move). The word passed through French ('émotion') and into English as 'emotion' in the 16th century, initially meaning 'a stirring, agitation or disturbance of the mind'. The adjective 'emotional' appeared around the 1830s, originally referring to things that stir the emotions and later also to people who are easily stirred.