alas

1 of 2

interjection

ə-ˈlas 

—used to express unhappiness, pity, or concern

Life, alas, is too short.

Alas

2 of 2

abbreviation

Alaska

Synonyms of alas

Interjection

• boo
• alack
• woe
• rats
• ay
• aw

Examples of alas in a Sentence

Interjection

Juliet's pitiful lament, “alas, poor Romeo, he is already dead!”.

Recent Examples on the Web

Interjection

After all, that makes sense, but alas, like much else in Cody Fern‘s directorial debut, even the most obvious of choices simply don’t add up. — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 14 Sep. 2026

The same, alas, cannot be said for Invasion, by the Guardian correspondent Luke Harding. — Nick Holdstock, The Dial, 8 Sep. 2026

That season’s trip to the West finals, alas, underscores what a disaster the Leonard era has been for this franchise, even as Leonard generally played amazingly. — John Hollinger, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Jackie Seabrooke, a celebrity hairstylist based in New York City, assured me that my hair nightmare was, alas, not unique. — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Interjection

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from a ah + las weary, from Latin lassus — more at lassitude

First Known Use

Interjection

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for alas

• amass
• bromegrass
• bypass
• crabgrass
• crevasse
• eelgrass
• eyeglass
• groundmass
• harass
• impasse
• jackass
• landmass

Kids Definition

alas

interjection

ə-ˈlas 

—used to express unhappiness, pity, or concern