sorrow

1 of 2

noun

sor·​row ˈsär-(ˌ)ō 

ˈsȯr-

1

a

: deep distress, sadness, or regret especially for the loss of someone or something loved

b

: resultant unhappy or unpleasant state

to their great sorrow they could not marry

2

: a cause of grief or sadness

3

: a display of grief or sadness

sorrow

2 of 2

verb

sorrowed; sorrowing; sorrows

intransitive verb

: to feel or express sorrow

sorrower

ˈsär-ə-wər 

ˈsȯr-

noun

Synonyms of sorrow

Noun

• grief
• anguish
• heartbreak

Verb

• grieve
• mourn
• ache
• anguish
• sigh

Choose the Right Synonym for sorrow

sorrow, grief, anguish, woe, regret mean distress of mind.

sorrow implies a sense of loss or a sense of guilt and remorse.

a family united in sorrow upon the patriarch's death

grief implies poignant sorrow for an immediate cause.

the inexpressible grief of the bereaved parents

anguish suggests torturing grief or dread.

the anguish felt by the parents of the kidnapped child

woe is deep or inconsolable grief or misery.

cries of woe echoed throughout the bombed city

regret implies pain caused by deep disappointment, fruitless longing, or unavailing remorse.

nagging regret for missed opportunities

Examples of sorrow in a Sentence

Noun

I felt sorrow at the death of my friend.

a life filled with joys and sorrows

She had a secret sorrow.

Verb

a sorrowing mother, grieving over the death of her son

the soldier's widow continued to sorrow long after her husband's last letter had turned yellow with age

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The lust for vengeance eventually gets the better of him, but Swenson leads us step by step to depravity through sorrow, injustice and humiliation. —Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026

For Proust—who may have met Wilde and even been the subject of the older man’s amorous attention (though accounts of their meeting or meetings could be apocryphal)—his downfall showed that life featured far keener sorrows than those encountered in books. —Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026

Verb

Sure, the case can be made for this contrast between scatological humor and serious insight working as a mirror for how quickly a person’s reality can shift from joy to sorrow, but the overall effect is puzzling. —Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 25 Jan. 2026

On the day peace came, there were mixed emotions — some felt joy; others sorrow. —Stephanie Yang, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English sorow, from Old English sorg; akin to Old High German sorga sorrow

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing sorrow

• more in sorrow than in anger

Rhymes for sorrow

• aro
• claro
• haro
• maro
• morrow
• yarrow
• amparo

Kids Definition

sorrow

1 of 2 noun

sor·​row ˈsär-ō 

ˈsȯr-

1

a

: sadness felt after a loss (as of something loved)

b

: a cause of grief or sadness

2

: a display of grief or sadness

sorrow

2 of 2 verb

: to feel or express sorrow : grieve