ruefully

American  

[roo-fuh-lee] / ˈru fə li /

adverb

1. in a mournful or doleful way.

   I found myself sitting ruefully by the side of the road, near a little town in North Carolina, waiting for a tow truck.

2. in a way that suggests repentance or regret.

   He is aware of his own flaws, at times ruefully so.

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Other Word Forms

• half-ruefully adverb
• unruefully adverb

Etymology

Origin of ruefully

rueful ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

As he stands in the rain, Mr Colton adds ruefully: "My gran thinks I'm mad."

From BBC

“I used to take pills for fun,” he says ruefully in “Ozzy: No Escape From Now,” which shows the star at his most fragile.

From The Wall Street Journal

She, too, counseled frankness regarding price—though she acknowledged, ruefully, that she has encountered sommeliers who judge customers based on how much they want to spend.

From The Wall Street Journal

And, no doubt, wondering ruefully about what might have been.

From Los Angeles Times

"It's not a construction for people like me," Erika – a newspaper layout designer – comments ruefully.

From BBC