pity

[ pit-ee ]

/ ˈpɪt i /

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See synonyms for: pity / pitied / pitying on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural pit·ies.

sympathetic or kindly sorrow evoked by the suffering, distress, or misfortune of another, often leading one to give relief or aid or to show mercy: to feel pity for a starving child.

a cause or reason for pity, sorrow, or regret: What a pity you could not go!

adjective

motivated by a sense of pity or sympathy for others or for oneself: It seems he got the pity vote because of his personality, but his singing just wasn’t that great.

verb (used with object), pit·ied, pit·y·ing.

to feel pity or compassion for; be sorry for; commiserate with.

verb (used without object), pit·ied, pit·y·ing.

to have compassion; feel pity.

OTHER WORDS FOR pity

1 commiseration, compassion.

See synonyms for pity on Thesaurus.com

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Idioms about pity

have / take pity, to show mercy or compassion.

Origin of pity

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English pite, from Old French pite, earlier pitet, from Latin pietāt- (stem of pietās “dutiful respect, sense of duty”); see origin at piety

synonym study for pity

1. See sympathy.

OTHER WORDS FROM pity

out·pit·y, verb (used with object), out·pit·ied, out·pit·y·ing.un·pit·ied, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use pity in a sentence

Naturally she pities me for not having this wonderful experience, too.
Why I Choose to Be Child-Free: Readers Share Their Stories|Harry Siegel|February 27, 2013|DAILY BEAST
It is a thousand pities that I cannot accompany you, but my place is in England for the next ten days.
The Weight of the Crown|Fred M. White
Mr. Lewes sends his kind regards, and pities all of us who are less interested in ganglionic cells.
George Eliot's Life, Vol. III (of 3)|George Eliot
And one always pities a poor Nation, in such case;—as the very Destinies rather do, and judge it more mercifully.
History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol. XIII. (of XXI.)|Thomas Carlyle

It is a thousand pities they had n't caught the fellow years ago.
Paul Gosslett's Confessions in Love, Law, and The Civil Service|Charles James Lever
The puffy, corn-fed millionaire pities the man who is content to live with small means and enjoy what he has to the full extent.
Think|Col. Wm. C. Hunter

British Dictionary definitions for pity

pity

/ (ˈpɪtɪ) /

noun plural pities

sympathy or sorrow felt for the sufferings of another

have pity on or take pity on to have sympathy or show mercy for

something that causes regret or pity

an unfortunate chancewhat a pity you can't come

more's the pity it is highly regrettable (that)

verb pities, pitying or pitied

(tr) to feel pity for

Derived forms of pity

pitying, adjectivepityingly, adverb

Word Origin for pity

C13: from Old French pité, from Latin pietās duty

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with pity

pity

see for one's (pity's) sake; take pity on.

pity

OTHER WORDS FOR pity

Idioms about pity

Origin of pity

synonym study for pity

OTHER WORDS FROM pity

Words related to pity

How to use pity in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for pity

Derived forms of pity

Word Origin for pity

Other Idioms and Phrases with pity