sadly
Americanadverb
Usage
What does sadly mean? Sadly means in an unhappy, sorrowful, or regretful way, as in Whenever my dog looks at me sadly, I can’t help but cuddle him. Sadly is frequently used to mean unfortunately, as in Sadly, he could not make the game today. This usage often gives a more emotional or sympathetic tone to a statement. It’s often used for disappointments, excuses, reports of loss, and any other scenario where something could be upsetting to the listener or reader. Example: We report sadly that we were unable to reach our financial goals this quarter.
Etymology
Origin of sadly
Explanation
When something is done sadly, it happens in a downhearted, unhappy way. You can speak sadly, hang your head sadly, or even smile sadly to convey how melancholy you're truly feeling. Sad means unhappy or sorrowful, so if the adverb sadly describes someone's actions, they're feeling down in the dumps. The Old English root of both words originally meant "full or sated with food," and later came to describe a heaviness that remains in the word sadly. It's also used to mean "unfortunately" or "it is a sad fact that," so you might say, "Sadly, chess club is canceled for the foreseeable future."
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.
It may be less as you go along if, sadly, one spouse predeceases the other.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 15, 2026
But it ends up with an outcome that feels as sadly inevitable as it is heartbreaking — an ethical knot that cannot be undone.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026
The first runs of these shows probably missed Gen Z. Not millennials, sadly.
From Salon ● Oct. 1, 2026
King Charles III said the temporary transfer was a "a precious symbol of trust at a time when trust seems sadly to be in short supply between nations".
From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026
Baachan didn’t say “thank you,” though, just gazed sadly at the kimono.
From "A Place to Belong" by Cynthia Kadohata
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
