sadly

American  

[sad-lee] / ˈsæd li /

adverb

1. in an unhappy, sorrowful, or regretful way; unfortunately; regrettably.

   Gun tracing is an attempt to answer the sadly common question of where the gun used in a crime came from.

   Sadly, the tourism and money brought in by the World Cup games won't benefit the people who need it most.

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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

sad ( def. ) + -ly

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

Looking at Patel’s career before he took over the FBI shows a strong pattern of thirsty behavior that makes all of this sadly predictable.

From Salon • Apr. 24, 2026

Rosenbaum said he was disappointed, “but sadly not surprised.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

Derbyshire Police said so-called courier fraud incidents were "sadly not unusual" and could target anyone of any age.

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

Mr. Lane’s sadly sloping eyebrows, his hunched gait—as if awaiting another blow from a brutal universe—are physical expressions of a man who is doomed to defeat as soon as we see him.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

But, sadly for Abel, not nearly as many as frightened Americans seemed to think.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin

Related Words

• wistfully