sorrow

noun sor·row \ ˈsär-(ˌ)ō , ˈsȯr- \

|Updated on: 6 Jun 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: sorrow in a Sentence

Definition of sorrow

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

See sorrow defined for English-language learners

See sorrow defined for kids

Examples of sorrow in a Sentence

I felt sorrow at the death of my friend.
a life filled with joys and sorrows
She had a secret sorrow.

Recent Examples of sorrow from the Web

Rather than wallow in sorrow, that day sparked a quest.

— adrian walker, BostonGlobe.com, "Once a nearly forgotten foster child, Steve Pemberton has become a beacon of hope," 28 May 2018
Bless them in their work and in their companionship; awake and asleep, in joy and in sorrow, in life and in death.

— cnn staff, CNN, "Full order of service for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle," 18 May 2018
Fear the Walking Dead was truly an unexpected, if sweet, sorrow.

— laura bradley, HWD, "Fear the Walking Dead," 30 Apr. 2018
The sorrow of his passing mingles with the desire for a New New Journalism that can some how channel the exclamation-point beauty — ZAP!!– of Wolfe’s glorious prose into the not-so-cynical poetry of a better America.

— will bunch, Philly.com, "Tom Wolfe gave us the best words about modern America … and the cynicism to watch it fail | Will Bunch," 17 May 2018
The sorrows of a city that spawned the Russian Revolution and endured the 900-day German siege during World War II.

— fen montaigne, New York Times, "From the Czars to Putin: A History of Russia’s Imperial City," 11 May 2018
Happy Birthday to have, to love, and then to part is the greatest sorrow of the heart.

— hartford courant, courant.com, "Vincent Ingenito," 24 Apr. 2018
And the sorrow of her loss is softened by the knowledge of her impact on our family and our country.

— jordan ray, star-telegram, "'She will forever be in our hearts': Social media reacts to Barbara Bush's death | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 17 Apr. 2018
And the sorrow of her loss is softened by the knowledge of her impact on our family and our country.

— carli teproff, miamiherald, "Reaction pours in after Barbara Bush dies at 92 | Miami Herald," 17 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sorrow.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of sorrow

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

sorrow Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of 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

sorrow

verb

Definition of sorrow

sorrowed; sorrowing; sorrows

intransitive verb

: to feel or express sorrow

—

sorrower

play \ˈsär-ə-wər, ˈsȯr-\ noun

See sorrow defined for English-language learners

Examples of sorrow in a Sentence

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 of sorrow from the Web

Chili’s Wash away all your tax day sorrows with a $5 Cuervo Blue Margarita, made with silver tequila, blue Curacao and pineapple juice.

— madison roberts, PEOPLE.com, "All the Restaurants Where You Can Get Free Food on Tax Day," 9 Apr. 2018
In some places, lynchings were accompanied by mob destruction of black business districts, adding economic devastation to sorrow.

— vanessa gregory, New York Times, "A Lynching’s Long Shadow," 25 Apr. 2018
Ashton Kutcher isn’t the type to drown his breakup sorrows with a carton of ice cream and a box of tissues.

— mike miller, PEOPLE.com, "Ashton Kutcher Fasted for a Week in the Woods After Demi Moore Divorce: 'I Started to Hallucinate'," 20 Feb. 2018
A skull, a crucifix and the suggestion of a sorrowing Rubenesque nude press in on a naked man (possibly the artist) who may be leaving them behind.

— roberta smith, New York Times, "Painting From the 1980s, When Brash Met Flash," 9 Feb. 2017

First Known Use of sorrow

before 12th century

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

sorrow Synonyms

Synonyms

agonize, anguish, bleed, grieve, hurt, mourn, suffer;

Near Antonyms

beam, cheer, crow, delight, exult, glory, joy, laugh, ravish, rejoice, triumph;

assure, cheer, comfort, commiserate, console, reassure, solace, soothe, sympathize;

rack, torment, torture;

bemoan, bewail, deplore, lament, rue;

bawl, blubber, cry, groan, howl, keen, moan, sob, take on, wail, weep, yammer, yowl;

languish;

regret;

Phrases

eat one's heart out, tear one's hair;

SORROW Defined for English Language Learners

sorrow

noun

Definition of sorrow for English Language Learners

: a feeling of sadness or grief caused especially by the loss of someone or something
: a cause of grief or sadness

sorrow

verb

Definition of sorrow for English Language Learners

: to feel or express sorrow

SORROW Defined for Kids

sorrow

noun sor·row \ ˈsär-ō \

Definition of sorrow for Students

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

2 : a cause of grief or sadness

He moved away to forget his sorrows.

3 : a feeling of regret

Synonym Discussion of sorrow

sorrow, grief, and woe mean a feeling of great sadness. sorrow is used for a feeling that something has been lost and often feelings of guilt and regret.