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
sorrowed; sorrowing; sorrows
: to feel or express sorrow
Synonyms
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
Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 19 Sep. 2023
Regardless of background or intent, the blues — in all its timeless nature of sadness and sorrow — is meant to actually connect and uplift, to bring forth solidarity in a shared moment of performance.
—Garret K. Woodward, Rolling Stone, 17 Sep. 2023
In a sign of the show's growing maturity, Winning Time eschewed the frat house humor and dramatic exaggerations of the first season to depict Larry's love of his father with tenderness and sorrow.
—Keith Nelson, Men's Health, 21 Aug. 2023
Social media erupted with thousands of comments Friday night reminiscing on past experiences seeing Toki, her newest name adopted by advocates, at Miami Seaquarium and genuine sorrow for the beloved creature.
—Devoun Cetoute Miami Herald (tns), al, 18 Aug. 2023
World & Nation Sleepless in Kyiv: Nighttime Russian air campaign terrorizes Ukraine’s capital
May 29, 2023
In a war that has left almost no family here untouched, his work draws on private sorrow.
—Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2023
Madonna employs rain as a metaphor – washing away sorrow and pain to wipe the slate clean.
31.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 17 Aug. 2023
Now, all that’s left is a gray hazmat zone filled with the sorrow of what has been lost.
—Jacqueline Yoo, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2023
This powerful, deeply moving saga follows Grace and her descendants, women who share strength and sorrow.
—Staff Author, Peoplemag, 7 Sep. 2023
Mark Athitakis, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2023
Finney-Smith has become fan favorite in Dallas, so much so that fan reaction on social media was split between excitement and shock that the Mavericks acquired eight-time All-Star Irving, but also sorrow about Finney-Smith departure.
—Dallas News, 6 Feb. 2023
The ghosts of their late partners are equally grief-stricken, but instead of succumbing to sorrow, the spirits decide to matchmake their survivors.
—People Staff, Peoplemag, 3 Feb. 2023
Oh dearest comforter of the troubled, alleviate our worry and sorrow with your gentle love, and grant us the grace and strength to accept this burden.
—Elizabeth Berry, Woman's Day, 30 Jan. 2023
As the story of SoulShine's contribution made its way onto the news and social media, people expressed appreciation for Garem and the company's creative contributions –and sorrow that the task was required.
—Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 1 June 2022
As Russia celebrated its most emotional holiday commemorating the Nazi defeat in World War II, Putin appeared in Red Square to invoke pride and sorrow over the Soviet role then and to cast Russia’s battles in Ukraine now as such a just cause.
—Washington Post, 9 May 2022
The book is one of triumph and also sorrow, including the many Black actors and actresses who died young without ever finding the success their talents merited.
—Kate Tuttle, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Nov. 2021
And sorrow, as Marcus Arbery moved away from the line of charter buses and into the crowd of people standing where his youngest child had laid motionless and bleeding 20 months prior.
—Asia Simone Burns, ajc, 25 Oct. 2021
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Noun
Wexton concluded her official statement by emphasizing her sorrow to conclude her public service in 2024.
—Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 19 Sep. 2023
Regardless of background or intent, the blues — in all its timeless nature of sadness and sorrow — is meant to actually connect and uplift, to bring forth solidarity in a shared moment of performance.
—Garret K. Woodward, Rolling Stone, 17 Sep. 2023
In a sign of the show's growing maturity, Winning Time eschewed the frat house humor and dramatic exaggerations of the first season to depict Larry's love of his father with tenderness and sorrow.
—Keith Nelson, Men's Health, 21 Aug. 2023
Social media erupted with thousands of comments Friday night reminiscing on past experiences seeing Toki, her newest name adopted by advocates, at Miami Seaquarium and genuine sorrow for the beloved creature.
—Devoun Cetoute Miami Herald (tns), al, 18 Aug. 2023
World & Nation Sleepless in Kyiv: Nighttime Russian air campaign terrorizes Ukraine’s capital
May 29, 2023
In a war that has left almost no family here untouched, his work draws on private sorrow.
—Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2023
Madonna employs rain as a metaphor – washing away sorrow and pain to wipe the slate clean.
31.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 17 Aug. 2023
Now, all that’s left is a gray hazmat zone filled with the sorrow of what has been lost.
—Jacqueline Yoo, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2023
This powerful, deeply moving saga follows Grace and her descendants, women who share strength and sorrow.
—Staff Author, Peoplemag, 7 Sep. 2023
Verb
The challenge for the author is to write a pulse-pounding thriller without sorrowing over this injustice too much.
—Mark Athitakis, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2023
Finney-Smith has become fan favorite in Dallas, so much so that fan reaction on social media was split between excitement and shock that the Mavericks acquired eight-time All-Star Irving, but also sorrow about Finney-Smith departure.
—Dallas News, 6 Feb. 2023
The ghosts of their late partners are equally grief-stricken, but instead of succumbing to sorrow, the spirits decide to matchmake their survivors.
—People Staff, Peoplemag, 3 Feb. 2023
Oh dearest comforter of the troubled, alleviate our worry and sorrow with your gentle love, and grant us the grace and strength to accept this burden.
—Elizabeth Berry, Woman's Day, 30 Jan. 2023
As the story of SoulShine's contribution made its way onto the news and social media, people expressed appreciation for Garem and the company's creative contributions –and sorrow that the task was required.
—Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 1 June 2022
As Russia celebrated its most emotional holiday commemorating the Nazi defeat in World War II, Putin appeared in Red Square to invoke pride and sorrow over the Soviet role then and to cast Russia’s battles in Ukraine now as such a just cause.
—Washington Post, 9 May 2022
The book is one of triumph and also sorrow, including the many Black actors and actresses who died young without ever finding the success their talents merited.
—Kate Tuttle, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Nov. 2021
And sorrow, as Marcus Arbery moved away from the line of charter buses and into the crowd of people standing where his youngest child had laid motionless and bleeding 20 months prior.
—Asia Simone Burns, ajc, 25 Oct. 2021
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sorrow.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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
Time Traveler
The first known use of sorrow was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing sorrow
Dictionary Entries Near sorrow
Cite this Entry
“Sorrow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sorrow. Accessed 25 Sep. 2023.
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More from Merriam-Webster on sorrow
Nglish: Translation of sorrow for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of sorrow for Arabic Speakers
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