1
a
: deep distress, sadness, or regret especially for the loss of someone or something loved
b
: resultant unhappy or unpleasant state
to their great sorrow they could not marry
2
: a cause of grief or sadness
3
: a display of grief or sadness
sorrowed; sorrowing; sorrows
: to feel or express sorrow
Synonyms
Examples of sorrow in a Sentence
Noun
I felt sorrow at the death of my friend.
a life filled with joys and sorrows
She had a secret sorrow.
Verb
a sorrowing mother, grieving over the death of her son
the soldier's widow continued to sorrow long after her husband's last letter had turned yellow with age
Recent Examples on the Web
Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
Their followers shared their prayers and expressed their sorrows in the comments section of the post.
—Sara Vallone, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2024
As has been true for centuries, in times of both fortune and sorrow, it is being observed around the world this year with public prayer and festivities.
—Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
Per Islamic tradition, the Prophet Muhammad’s young son Ibrahim died on the day of a solar eclipse, and many of his followers at the time associated the celestial phenomenon with death and sorrow, Aydin says.
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
Gallant's office also provided a summary of the call, noting that Gallant expressed his sorrow over the attack and assured Austin that a thorough investigation was being conducted.
—NBC News, 5 Apr. 2024
Through seasons of celebration and sorrow, prayers were offered up.
—Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 29 Mar. 2024
In the midst of their shock and sorrow, Shauna and her husband, Chris Demars, an independent contractor who helps build custom houses, had to decide what to do when their baby was born.
—Gina Kolata Kim Raff, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024
While most of the core heroes were busy dealing with Madelyne Prior, the Jean Grey clone who's been secretly living with them for... only Mister Sinister knows how long, Storm is seen drinking away her sorrows in a bar in Texas.
—Nick Romano, EW.com, 28 Mar. 2024
Mark Athitakis, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2023
Finney-Smith has become fan favorite in Dallas, so much so that fan reaction on social media was split between excitement and shock that the Mavericks acquired eight-time All-Star Irving, but also sorrow about Finney-Smith departure.
—Dallas News, 6 Feb. 2023
The ghosts of their late partners are equally grief-stricken, but instead of succumbing to sorrow, the spirits decide to matchmake their survivors.
—People Staff, Peoplemag, 3 Feb. 2023
Oh dearest comforter of the troubled, alleviate our worry and sorrow with your gentle love, and grant us the grace and strength to accept this burden.
—Elizabeth Berry, Woman's Day, 30 Jan. 2023
As the story of SoulShine's contribution made its way onto the news and social media, people expressed appreciation for Garem and the company's creative contributions –and sorrow that the task was required.
—Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 1 June 2022
As Russia celebrated its most emotional holiday commemorating the Nazi defeat in World War II, Putin appeared in Red Square to invoke pride and sorrow over the Soviet role then and to cast Russia’s battles in Ukraine now as such a just cause.
—Washington Post, 9 May 2022
The book is one of triumph and also sorrow, including the many Black actors and actresses who died young without ever finding the success their talents merited.
—Kate Tuttle, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Nov. 2021
And sorrow, as Marcus Arbery moved away from the line of charter buses and into the crowd of people standing where his youngest child had laid motionless and bleeding 20 months prior.
—Asia Simone Burns, ajc, 25 Oct. 2021
Noun
The sorrow and anger repressed within him are as fearsome as the cinematic zombies, ghouls and homicidal maniacs that have seized his imagination.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
Their followers shared their prayers and expressed their sorrows in the comments section of the post.
—Sara Vallone, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2024
As has been true for centuries, in times of both fortune and sorrow, it is being observed around the world this year with public prayer and festivities.
—Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
Per Islamic tradition, the Prophet Muhammad’s young son Ibrahim died on the day of a solar eclipse, and many of his followers at the time associated the celestial phenomenon with death and sorrow, Aydin says.
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
Gallant's office also provided a summary of the call, noting that Gallant expressed his sorrow over the attack and assured Austin that a thorough investigation was being conducted.
—NBC News, 5 Apr. 2024
Through seasons of celebration and sorrow, prayers were offered up.
—Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 29 Mar. 2024
In the midst of their shock and sorrow, Shauna and her husband, Chris Demars, an independent contractor who helps build custom houses, had to decide what to do when their baby was born.
—Gina Kolata Kim Raff, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024
While most of the core heroes were busy dealing with Madelyne Prior, the Jean Grey clone who's been secretly living with them for... only Mister Sinister knows how long, Storm is seen drinking away her sorrows in a bar in Texas.
—Nick Romano, EW.com, 28 Mar. 2024
Verb
The challenge for the author is to write a pulse-pounding thriller without sorrowing over this injustice too much.
—Mark Athitakis, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2023
Finney-Smith has become fan favorite in Dallas, so much so that fan reaction on social media was split between excitement and shock that the Mavericks acquired eight-time All-Star Irving, but also sorrow about Finney-Smith departure.
—Dallas News, 6 Feb. 2023
The ghosts of their late partners are equally grief-stricken, but instead of succumbing to sorrow, the spirits decide to matchmake their survivors.
—People Staff, Peoplemag, 3 Feb. 2023
Oh dearest comforter of the troubled, alleviate our worry and sorrow with your gentle love, and grant us the grace and strength to accept this burden.
—Elizabeth Berry, Woman's Day, 30 Jan. 2023
As the story of SoulShine's contribution made its way onto the news and social media, people expressed appreciation for Garem and the company's creative contributions –and sorrow that the task was required.
—Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 1 June 2022
As Russia celebrated its most emotional holiday commemorating the Nazi defeat in World War II, Putin appeared in Red Square to invoke pride and sorrow over the Soviet role then and to cast Russia’s battles in Ukraine now as such a just cause.
—Washington Post, 9 May 2022
The book is one of triumph and also sorrow, including the many Black actors and actresses who died young without ever finding the success their talents merited.
—Kate Tuttle, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Nov. 2021
And sorrow, as Marcus Arbery moved away from the line of charter buses and into the crowd of people standing where his youngest child had laid motionless and bleeding 20 months prior.
—Asia Simone Burns, ajc, 25 Oct. 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sorrow.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English sorow, from Old English sorg; akin to Old High German sorga sorrow
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of sorrow was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing sorrow
Dictionary Entries Near sorrow
Cite this Entry
“Sorrow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sorrow. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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More from Merriam-Webster on sorrow
Nglish: Translation of sorrow for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of sorrow for Arabic Speakers
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