sadly

[sad-lee]

adverb

1. in an unhappy, sorrowful, or regretful way; unfortunately; regrettably.

   Gun tracing is an attempt to answer the sadly common question of where the gun used in a crime came from.

   Sadly, the tourism and money brought in by the World Cup games won't benefit the people who need it most.

Word History and Origins

Origin of sadly¹

sad ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

Barbara Muschietti: Sadly, these horrors keep haunting us, and racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia is still sadly a human condition, needing to find someone below you that you can punch.

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They swapped rooms but the stay was - sadly - uneventful in paranormal terms.

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"The schedule is too much, mentally and emotionally I am at breaking point and sadly I am not alone," the 28-year-old, who this year switched nationality from Russia to Australia, said in early October.

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"I love being here, it's been gorgeous and I'm devastated. I so wanted to stay to the end, but it's a game," she said sadly.

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Afterwards, Littler posted on Instagram: "Missed registration today for the pro tour, but someone sadly lost their life. Thinking of everyone."

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Related Words

• wistfully 

When To Use

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.