Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

alas

1 American  
[uh-las, uh-lahs] / əˈlæs, əˈlɑs /

interjection

  1. (used as an exclamation to express sorrow, grief, pity, concern, or apprehension of evil.)

Alas. 2 American  

abbreviation

  1. Alaska.

alas 1 British  
/ əˈlæs /

  1. unfortunately; regrettably

    there were, alas, none left
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

interjection

  1. an exclamation of grief, compassion, or alarm

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Alas. 2 British  

abbreviation

  1. Alaska

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of alas

1225–75; Middle English < Old French ( h ) a las!, equivalent to ( h ) a ah + las wretched < Latin lassus weary; alack

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.

They show only what markets did during the period studied — so, alas, there are no perfect guarantees.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 26, 2026

In Los Angeles, alas, we were, last spring, a city of cinders.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 20, 2026

We rushed into the decision giddy about the project, thrilled to have outflanked our competition at Universal Studios and, alas, oblivious to the potential ramifications.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 19, 2026

But alas, Minute Maid is saying goodbye to all that, and thanks for the memories.

From Salon • Feb. 6, 2026

El Patron swam with his brothers, but, alas, they died of various things before they had a chance to grow up.

From "The House of the Scorpion" by Nancy Farmer

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.