Face holding back tears emoji 🥹
🥹 is the face holding back tears: big glossy eyes brimming over, a small closed-mouth smile. It is the emoji for being touched, grateful or overwhelmed by something…
Published · Updated
What the face holding back tears 🥹 emoji means
🥹 is the face holding back tears: big glossy eyes brimming over, a small closed-mouth smile. It is the emoji for being touched, grateful or overwhelmed by something sweet — a proud parent, a kind message, a puppy video — and it also works for “trying not to cry” in the sad sense. Added in Emoji 14.0 (2021), it filled a gap between 🥺 pleading, which asks for something, and 😭 loudly crying, which has already lost it. From a guy or a girl it is almost always affectionate: “this made me emotional in a good way”.
Unicode name: face holding back tears · U+1F979 · Emoji 14.0 (2021) · group: Smileys & Emotion.
How people use it
- Touched: a thoughtful gift, a kind comment, a reunion
- Proud: milestones for kids, friends and pets
- Cute overload: under baby-animal videos
- Bittersweet: goodbyes and last days
Compare the options
| Emoji | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| face holding back tearsU+1F979 | Moved, grateful, about to cry | |
| smiling face with tearU+1F972 | Bittersweet, coping with a smile | |
| crying faceU+1F622 | Sad, a single tear | |
| pleading faceU+1F97A | Begging, puppy eyes | |
| loudly crying faceU+1F62D | Sobbing — sad or laughing |
Common uses for the holding back tears emoji
🥹 is used when someone is close to tears but holding them back. A common use is to show gratitude or being moved: “thank you, this means so much 🥹”.
The emoji also suits hopeful requests, like “please say yes 🥹”, adding an overwhelmed, sincere tone. For reacting to something overwhelmingly cute or sweet, it works well, from a puppy video to a kind gesture.
The holding back tears meme and how it is used online
🥹 also appears in online humour and memes. It often accompanies a touching or adorable image, with a caption that downplays the emotion. The emoji’s brimming eyes act as the emotional cue.
Common meme formats
- Reaction to a wholesome video: “me watching the dog reunite with its owner 🥹”
- The “I’m not crying, you’re crying” joke, where the emoji contradicts the caption.
- A teary reaction to bittersweet news, like a favourite show ending.
Questions people ask
What does 🥹 mean?
Being touched or overwhelmed with emotion: the eyes are full of tears but the face is smiling. It is usually a good-emotional, not a sad-emotional.
What is the difference between 🥹 and 🥺?
🥺 pleading face has puppy eyes and asks for something. 🥹 holds back tears and reacts to something moving.
Why does 🥹 not show on my phone?
It needs Emoji 14.0 support: iOS 15.4, Android 12L or newer. Older devices show a box or a question mark.
Is 🥹 the same as 🥺?
Not exactly. 🥹 is about being moved or touched, while 🥺 pleading face is the classic choice for asking. You can still use 🥹 with a request to show you are emotionally invested.
Can 🥹 be used for cute reactions?
Yes, 🥹 works for moments that are cute or sweet but also emotionally touching. It pairs well with 🥰 or 🥺 when reacting to adorable content.
Is 🥹 the teary-eyed emoji?
Yes, 🥹 is often called the teary-eyed emoji because its eyes look glossy and brimming with tears that haven't fallen. The official name is Face Holding Back Tears, but teary-eyed emoji is a common alternative.
Is 🥹 a please emoji?
Not exactly. 🥺 pleading face is the classic please emoji. 🥹 is more about being deeply moved or grateful, though its teary eyes can add emotion to a heartfelt request.
Is 🥹 the aww emoji?
Yes, 🥹 can work as an aww emoji when something is so cute or touching that you feel a lump in your throat. Its brimming eyes and small smile suit that tender reaction.
Is 🥹 a gratitude emoji?
🥹 can be a gratitude emoji, especially for overwhelming thanks. When words feel too small, the held-back tears show how deeply moved you are by someone's kindness.
Is 🥹 the teary eyes emoji?
Yes, 🥹 is often called the teary eyes emoji. It shows eyes welling up with tears.
What does it mean when tears well up in 🥹?
When tears well up in 🥹, it usually means someone is feeling touched or moved, sometimes from something sweet or heartfelt, rather than from sadness.
About this guide
Written and maintained by the Emoji Directory editorial team, without ads or sponsorship. Meanings describe how the emoji is commonly used in public posts and messages, not an official definition. Names, code points, versions, keywords and translations come from the Unicode Emoji 18.0 and CLDR data; shortcodes from the gemoji project. Last reviewed . Spotted a mistake or a new usage? Tell us, or read how the directory is made.
