sorrow

American  

[sor-oh, sawr-oh] / ˈsɒr oʊ, ˈsɔr oʊ /

noun

1. distress caused by loss, affliction, disappointment, etc.; grief, sadness, or regret.

2. a cause or occasion of grief or regret, as an affliction, a misfortune, or trouble.

   His first sorrow was the bank failure.

   Synonyms:

   adversity

3. the expression of grief, sadness, disappointment, or the like.

   muffled sorrow.

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verb (used without object)

1. to feel sorrow; grieve.

   Synonyms:

   lament, mourn

sorrow British  

/ ˈsɒrəʊ /

noun

1. the characteristic feeling of sadness, grief, or regret associated with loss, bereavement, sympathy for another's suffering, for an injury done, etc

2. a particular cause or source of regret, grief, etc

3. Also called: sorrowing.  the outward expression of grief or sadness

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verb

1. (intr) to mourn or grieve

sorrow Idioms  

1. see drown one's sorrows; more in sorrow than in anger.

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Related Words

Sorrow, distress, grief, misery, woe imply bitter suffering, especially as caused by loss or misfortune. Sorrow is the most general term. Grief is keen suffering, especially for a particular reason. Distress implies anxiety, anguish, or acute suffering caused by the pressure of trouble or adversity. Misery suggests such great and unremitting pain or wretchedness of body or mind as crushes the spirit. Woe is deep or inconsolable grief or misery.

Other Word Forms

• sorrower
  noun
• sorrowful
  adjective
• sorrowfully
  adverb
• sorrowfulness
  noun
• sorrowless
  adjective
• unsorrowing
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of sorrow

First recorded before 900; (noun) Middle English; Old English sorg; cognate with German Sorge, Dutch zorg, Old Norse sorg, Gothic saurga; (verb) Middle English sorwen, Old English sorgian; cognate with Old High German sorgôn

Explanation

Sorrow is a feeling of immense sadness, like the sorrow you would feel if your best friend suddenly moved across the country. Sorrow is an almost unbearable sadness. In fact, it is often used as a synonym for grief. If you drop a pretty picture frame and it breaks, you might feel sad. If, on the other hand, your entire house — including that picture frame — burns to the ground, you will feel sorrow at the loss of everything, including the photographs and other mementos you can never replace.

Example Sentences

“She sends her deepest condolences and sorrow over this tragedy. This has been devastating for everyone. It is premature to make any other statement.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2026

The aviation giant's attorney Dan Webb expressed the company's sorrow at the crash and said he agreed that the family should receive "significant financial compensation for the harm they've experienced."

From Barron's • May 6, 2026

She expressed deepest sorrow but said she had no recollection of what happened.

From BBC • May 1, 2026

"With profound sorrow, we must assume political responsibility for this tactical error, which has no justification whatsoever," the statement read.

From Barron's • Apr. 29, 2026

The darkness was in him, and with it misery, a dull, blunt, angry sorrow.

From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell

Related Words

• agony
• anguish
• hardship
• heartache
• heartbreak
• melancholy
• misery
• mourning
• pain
• regret
• remorse
• repentance
• sadness
• suffering
• unhappiness
• worry