sadly

[sad-lee]

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of sadly¹

sad ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

“South Park” won’t change the world, sadly, but it might reassure a viewer that he isn’t alone in his thoughts, that he isn’t the crazy one.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"He's going to be sadly missed by me... the nation's going to miss him," said Paul Speak, who managed the fighter known as The Hitman from the beginning of his career in the ring.

Read more on BBC

Football fans don't come to Wembley to see the national team; we're not the target market sadly.

Read more on BBC

An Englishman visiting the Netherlands noted with surprise: “This trading nation must be in a very bad way. Most of their principal towns are sadly decayed.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

And Calder Gardens, for all the undoubted talent and imagination it displays, sadly turns its back on its Parkway context with a self-satisfied aloofness.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• wistfully 

When To Use

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.