pity
Americannoun
-
pities
plural
-
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.
- Synonyms:
- compassion, commiseration
-
a cause or reason for pity, sorrow, or regret.
What a pity you could not go!
adjective
verb (used with object)
-
pities,
present (3rd person singular)
-
pitied,
past participle, past
-
pitying
present participle
verb (used without object)
-
pities,
present (3rd person singular)
-
pitied,
past participle, past
-
pitying
present participle
idioms
noun
-
sympathy or sorrow felt for the sufferings of another
-
to have sympathy or show mercy for
-
something that causes regret or pity
-
an unfortunate chance
what a pity you can't come
-
it is highly regrettable (that)
verb
Synonym Usage
See sympathy .
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
pitysimple
-
pitiessimple
-
have pitiedperfect
-
has pitiedperfect
-
am pityingprogressive
-
are pityingprogressive
-
is pityingprogressive
-
have been pityingperfect progressive
-
has been pityingperfect progressive
Past
-
pitiedsimple
-
had pitiedperfect
-
was pityingprogressive
-
were pityingprogressive
-
had been pityingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
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
Explanation
If you feel pity, you feel sympathy for someone else's suffering. A documentary on prisoners who have been wrongfully convicted might make you feel pity for them. Use pity as a noun or a verb. You feel pity for the really bad singer so you try to look attentive, but then you pity yourself for having to suffer through his terrible rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." We also say something is a pity if it's something to be sad about. It's a pity that your computer crashed right after you finished your paper.
Vocabulary lists containing pity
"Everyday Use" by Alice Walker
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"Fine?" Vocabulary from the short story
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"The People Could Fly," Vocabulary from the folk tale
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
It was a sound of pity and awe, a sound that said this isn’t only history, it is human tragedy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026
She recites the names of the Mexicans Guthrie envisioned on the plummeting plane — Juan, Rosalita, Jesús and María — with tenderness, not pity.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026
The musician admits it is a "real pity" that Michael never had the chance to return to China and meet those whose lives were changed by the visit.
From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2026
"Potti Sriramulu is a forgotten man today. This is a pity, for he had a more than minor impact on the history, as well as geography of his country," historian Ramachandra Guha has written.
From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2026
“Your weird little rat’s nest—I always assumed that Tess must be taking pity on a poor relation. But you’re rich, richer even than my family.”
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
What If they knew the panoply of pities we can name—pities for them, for ourselves?
From Scientific American ● Sep. 23, 2023
Shatner has said he pities Takei and has claimed that “there’s a psychosis there” when it comes to Takei and that there’s something “festering” in the actor.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2021
She pities the park rangers who have to quote it on tours of Ford’s Theatre.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 13, 2021
He is too kind—or perhaps still too young—to show his parents contempt, but he sometimes pities our cluelessness.
From Slate ● Apr. 3, 2020
There is a sad look in her eyes, like she pities me.
From "Allegiant" by Veronica Roth
An essential part of respect is to not be pitied.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 21, 2025
His fans rolled with his excesses and pitied his life tragedies.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2025
The chimney sweep comforts the kids by showing why their father should not be feared, but pitied.
From Slate ● Apr. 27, 2025
She pitied his inability to move past his grievances and admit defeat.
From Salon ● Jan. 5, 2025
She and I could have laughed at the mother’s blindness and pitied the plight of the unequal lovers.
From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein
Josh: In our quest to become better recyclers, Melissa, I found myself pitying the ephemeral life of a pizza box.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 19, 2024
"I didn't want it to be a 'doom and gloom moment' because I can't deal with people pitying me," she says.
From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2023
“I also knew I should be able to tell the darker stories, without having you pitying me.”
From New York Times ● Feb. 23, 2023
"You know, these fears that people are looking at him and just pitying him."
From Salon ● Sep. 29, 2021
After a moment, I followed, half pitying my father for being so gullible.
From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein
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.
