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

From shabby apartments to art experiments to filthy needles—with echoes of Patti Smith and Rebecca Makkai—Adler conjures an era of sorrow borne by too many, too young. — Hamilton Cain, Time, 7 July 2026

President Asif Ali Zardari expressed sorrow over the crash and offered condolences to the victims' families. — ABC News, 3 July 2026

Verb

Did the woman who has spent a career immersed in romance with all of its joys and sorrows really exchange vows in what's essentially her workplace? — Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 4 July 2026

While that same sun will always rise in the East and set in the West, the work of these artists affirms that each new day is ours to make anew — no matter what sorrows may lay behind us. — Grant Klarich Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026

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