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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

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

From Salon • Feb. 6, 2026

The renovations cost hundreds of millions of dollars more than projected, which alas is all too typical for a government building project.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 3, 2026

The thirst for power has a way of corrupting even the most idealistic hearts, alas.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 5, 2026

“Anger. Very nice. Useless to me, alas, but as it is so often a precursor to sorrow, I confess that I do like it.”

From "The Girl Who Drank the Moon" by Kelly Barnhill

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.