sadly
Americanadverb
Usage
What does sadly mean? Sadly means in an unhappy, sorrowful, or regretful way, as in Whenever my dog looks at me sadly, I can’t help but cuddle him. Sadly is frequently used to mean unfortunately, as in Sadly, he could not make the game today. This usage often gives a more emotional or sympathetic tone to a statement. It’s often used for disappointments, excuses, reports of loss, and any other scenario where something could be upsetting to the listener or reader. Example: We report sadly that we were unable to reach our financial goals this quarter.
Etymology
Origin of sadly
Explanation
When something is done sadly, it happens in a downhearted, unhappy way. You can speak sadly, hang your head sadly, or even smile sadly to convey how melancholy you're truly feeling. Sad means unhappy or sorrowful, so if the adverb sadly describes someone's actions, they're feeling down in the dumps. The Old English root of both words originally meant "full or sated with food," and later came to describe a heaviness that remains in the word sadly. It's also used to mean "unfortunately" or "it is a sad fact that," so you might say, "Sadly, chess club is canceled for the foreseeable future."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It may be less as you go along if, sadly, one spouse predeceases the other.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 15, 2026
"Emergency services attended and sadly, despite the best efforts of medical personnel, the man was pronounced dead at the scene," it added.
From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026
The first runs of these shows probably missed Gen Z. Not millennials, sadly.
From Salon ● Oct. 1, 2026
After the board papers were published, Dr Holden said: "This review is clear that sadly, we have failed families. We are truly sorry."
From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2026
At the conclusion of the match, Taimanov had sadly told Fischer: “Well, I still have my music.”
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
